Lao She's Autobiography: A Report on an Ordinary Person's Ordinary Life

Author: Yan Huandong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-02-01
Features: One of the important pioneers of the late Lao She in the new literature of China, Lao She was one of the few literary masters of the 20th century, and also one of the few outstanding writers among the older generation who rose from a commoner background. Lao She's works are numerous, and his outstanding works such as Rickshaw Boy, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse are treasures of Chinese literature. The writing of this book took eight years and provides a complete and vivid introduction to Lao She's (: rough and difficult) life and his creative career, with detailed explanations and critiques of all his representative works. The book pays special attention, first and foremost, to a comprehensive grasp of Lao She's spiritual temperament and moral character. A central theme throughout the book is that Lao She was born into poverty and always considered himself a "poor person," always saw himself as an "ordinary person." This shaped his entire thoughts and personality, and also led to his extraordinary achievements. In the history of modern literature, if Lu Xun is compared to a mountain, then Lao She is a river—deep, vast, tolerant, and gentle. It is not without waves, but the waves are gentle; it is not without roars, but the roars are full of emotion. He is soft yet firm, gentle yet strong, ordinary yet outstanding. The writing method of this book is unique. The editor "invites" Lao She to participate in the creation of the book; as if he is sitting beside us, accepting interviews from the editor and narrating his stories in a leisurely manner. The book is woven together with Lao She's self-narratives as the warp and the editor's explanations, critiques, and transitions as the weft. It alternates between narration and discussion, with discussion intertwined in the narration and vice versa. The two complement each other, forming a complete and organic whole. By the end of the book, a very close, complete, and three-dimensional image of Lao She will be etched in your heart. This book is part of the "Famous Cultural Figures' Life Series."