Witness One Thousand and One Nights: Literary Life in the Early 21st Century

Author: Li Jingze
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
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 essays are highly regarded, especially his critical writings, which flow with rhythm, radiate charm, strike precisely at the core, and possess sharp, penetrating insight. On the surface, they are refined and gentle, yet beneath, they are powerful and vigorous. Reading them brings joy and satisfaction, leaving a lingering aftertaste of thought. Li Jingze's columns have a certain critical tone, much like Jin Shengtan's annotations on literary works, full of talent and discernment. Yet, they are not confined by the works themselves; instead, they are filled with wise insights. Usually, I only buy two types of books: one is exceptionally outstanding, and the other is by authors I trust. The first requires careful selection, while the second is a treasure once it's in my hands. I see novelists and writers as Scheherazade; like her, they overcome the cruel passage of time, conquer inner fears, and defeat death through speech and writing, thereby preserving and affirming human life and existence. In this process, they always face their era and their readers with composure, as if standing at the edge of a cliff. 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 the novelists, poets, and essayists, and listening to their stories. Scheherazade, in ancient Arabia, told her sister story after story each night, with the cruel king listening beside her. She had to make her narrative endure through the night and into the approaching day, or she would die. Novelists or writers are all Scheherazade; like her, they overcome the cruel passage of time, conquer inner fears, and defeat death through speech and writing, thereby preserving and affirming human life and existence. In this process, they always face their era and their readers with composure, as if standing at the edge of a cliff.