Witness One Thousand and One Nights

Author: Li Jingze
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: Holding the literary scepter of the 21st century, listening to the warm words of Scheherazade—literary life at the beginning of the 21st century. Li Jingze's writing is profound, beautiful, and delicate, like flowers quietly blooming in the deep lanes of history. In the morning breeze of the modern era, one can faintly smell the lingering fragrance of the distant past. Li Jingze's literary criticism and prose writing are highly regarded, especially his critical essays, which flow with rhythm, radiate vitality, strike their mark with precision, and possess sharp, penetrating insight. On the surface, his writing is refined and gentle, yet beneath lies a powerful and vigorous spirit. Reading his work brings joy and satisfaction, leaving a lingering aftertaste of thought. Li Jingze's columns carry a certain critical tone, much like Jin Shengtan's annotations on literary works, showcasing both talent and discernment. Yet, his appreciation is not confined by the works themselves; his writing is filled with insightful reflections. Typically, I only buy two types of books: one that is exceptionally outstanding and another whose author I trust. The first requires careful selection, while the second is a treasure once it is in my hands.
In this process, novelists and writers are all Scheherazade. Like her, they overcome the cruel passage of time, conquer inner fears, and triumph over death through speech and writing. In doing so, the value and affirmation of human life and existence are maintained. Throughout this journey, they remain steadfast in the face of their era and their readers, as calm as if standing at the edge of a deep abyss.
This book is a collection of the "New Works Review" column from Southern Weekly. From August 2001 to December 2003, once a month, I imagined myself as a witness to "One Thousand and One Nights," observing novelists, poets, and prose writers, listening to their stories. The author recounts how, in ancient Arabia, the young Scheherazade tells her sister one story after another each night, with the cruel king listening nearby. Scheherazade must weave her narratives to endure the night and the impending day; otherwise, she will die. Novelists or writers are all Scheherazade. Like her, they overcome the cruel passage of time, conquer inner fears, and triumph over death through speech and writing. In this process, they remain steadfast in the face of their era and their readers, as calm as if standing at the edge of a deep abyss.