Guo Moruo's Autobiography: A Review of My Life as a Writer

Author: Yan Huandong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Guo Moruo was an outstanding writer, poet, and dramatist in China, as well as a Marxist historian and paleographer. Like Lu Xun, he was a renowned scholar with profound knowledge and exceptional talent in modern Chinese cultural history, serving as another shining banner on China's cultural front. Guo Moruo's Autobiography condenses Guo Moruo's vast body of works into a concise, self-narrative form, providing a summary of his life and literary journey. It covers his hometown, family, and experiences as a student abroad, as well as his creative endeavors in poetry, drama, and fiction, his intellectual transformations, and his elaborations on literary theory. In terms of writing style, the editor interweaves narration with commentary, alternating between self-narration and side stories, and includes necessary annotations. This approach makes the autobiography more systematic and organized, demonstrating considerable creativity. Reading this biographical work evokes a sense of freshness, intimacy, and closeness, offering great inspiration and enlightenment. Guo Moruo's luminous image leaves a deep impression on the reader.
The preface to the main text of the book, Guo Moruo on Guo Moruo, collects excerpts from, evaluations, and commemorative articles by Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Deng Yingchao, Mao Dun, Lao She, and others about Comrade Guo Moruo, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of his life. The book was first published in 1986, with the autobiography covering only up to 1928. In 1990, a revised and expanded edition was released, adding to the original version while also introducing three new chapters: Ten Years of Exile, Struggle for National Liberation and People's Democracy, and On New China's Soil. Additionally, A Brief Chronology of Guo Moruo's Works was updated to include events up to the death of Guo Moruo in 1978.