South Passage, East Concealment (Wild Gourd Introduction, 2 volumes)

Author: Zong Pu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: "The Wild Gourd Guide" is set against the backdrop of the Southwest during the War of Resistance against Japan, vividly depicting the moral integrity and emotional worlds of several generations of Chinese intellectuals. The novel has a rigorous and well-structured plot, elegant and profound language, subtle hidden twists, and richly realistic characters, making it a highly engaging read and a rare gem in recent years. "The Journey South" follows the plot of the universities in Beijing beginning to move south after the "July 7th Incident." These two years were spent in constant struggle. A person who could only seek a livelihood after recovery from illness, without the talent for quick thinking or the skill with a pen, set out to write this long novel "The Wild Gourd Guide"—a task far beyond their capabilities. They should have just struggled to make a living. The struggle mainly occurred between the "wild gourds" and the real world. Writing requires full concentration, best immersing oneself in the world of the wild gourds and forgetting the real world. This is a simple truth, yet it is not easy to achieve. I could try to minimize the content of my life, but I could not shirk my responsibilities to my parents and to care for my children, nor could I avoid eating. Additionally, due to slow inspiration, I was in a state of prolonged creativity, which was exhausting. Sometimes I would take long breaks. As a result, I was always pulled out of the "wild gourds," often feeling the pain of being divided and confused. I always felt guilty about that period of history. Guilty about the characters in the book; and because the characters in the book ignored real people, neglected family and friends, and were absent-minded, mishandling many things, I felt deep remorse. Over the two years, there were very few moments of joy and contentment.