The novels of Mao Dun

Author: Mao Dun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: The greatness of a writer does not lie in how later generations place his plaque on the altar; what truly matters is whether his works remain immortal in the hearts of readers across generations. Tolstoy is immortal not because of his hereditary nobility, but because he wrote War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and Resurrection. Mao Dun, who wrote The Disintegration, The Rainbow, Midnight, The Spring Silkworms, and Lin's Shop, is equally immortal. When it comes to the breadth of creative themes and the vastness of his works, Mao Dun ranks among the top two in modern Chinese fiction. A Chinese fiction landscape without Mao Dun would be far less vibrant. Mao Dun said, "I lived authentically, experienced the complex life of a turbulent China, finally felt the bitterness of disillusionment, the contradictions of life. In my depressed mood and lonely life, I was still driven by the persistence to turn losses into gains. The contradictions of life, in my depressed mood, in my lonely life, still dominated me. I wanted to ignite a tiny light from the embers of my life in this chaotic, gray world." Thus, he rationally used the scalpel of words and strictly followed his own "ABC of Novel Writing" to dissect society. He was not sentimental about the past or empty in his praise of the future, but instead placed reality on the operating table to "gaze at," "analyze," and "expose." Many of Mao Dun's works are timeless classics that withstand repeated reading and reflection. Although the era he represented is no longer suitable for today, the human elements revealed in his works transcend temporal boundaries and are eternal. Think about it—aren't all masterful writers like this? Precisely because of this, Mao Dun's place in literary history is irreplaceable. The selections in this book are only his short stories, and glimpsing the craftsmanship of a master is already enough.