A Real Zhang Ailing

Author: Zhang Shengyin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Eileen Chang was a hedonist who made art a part of life and life an art form. Yet, she was filled with a sense of tragedy about life. She came from a noble family but longed to be a self-reliant "commoner." She was compassionate and empathetic yet detached and aloof, indifferent and unfeeling. She understood human nature and worldly affairs yet was unconventional in her dress and manner, standing out as a lone figure. In her writing, she could be close and familiar with her readers, sharing personal stories, yet in reality, she kept a distance from others, preventing outsiders from peering into her inner thoughts. She once achieved great fame, basking in the spotlight like a movie star, yet she lived a secluded life, isolated from the world.