The Rise and Fall of the Republic of China (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Cai Dongfan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: A popular historical masterpiece that has gained fame both at home and abroad. Renowned historian Cai Dongfan used official history as the backbone and anecdotes as the weft. After ten years of painstaking effort, he vividly portrayed five thousand years of Chinese history in a novelistic style. The novel follows a traditional chapter structure, employs accessible language, and includes witty commentary. It authentically recreates the tumultuous process of the evolution of Chinese civilization. It depicts the emperors like Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi, Tang Taizong and Song Taizu, as well as the customs and livelihoods of the people during dynastic changes. It delves into the bloody battles on the frontiers and the intrigues in the palace, revealing the wisdom of survival amidst the rise and fall of civilizations. The Popular Romance of the Republic of China, volumes 1 to 3, were written by my friend Cai Dongfan. Cai had a habitual passion for newspapers, and with a rich collection, he meticulously compiled this work. Enhanced by his polished prose and intricate structure, it became a perfect historical novel. After its publication, it spread rapidly across the world without needing to be promoted. The owner of Huiwen Tang considered Cai's work to have concluded in the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), which is ten years ago. As it was time for a continuation, he discussed it with me and asked me to write volumes 4 and 5, starting from the Li Chun suicide case in the ninth year of the Republic and ending with the unification of the Nationalist Government across the country in the seventeenth year, with each volume consisting of forty chapters and totaling 300,000 words.