Wild Gourd Introduction (Vol. 1 & 2)

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 subtle language, intricate subplots, and richly developed characters, making it highly engaging 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 scratch a living after recovery from illness, with no talent for writing or a powerful pen, set out to write this long novel "The Wild Gourd Guide"—it was truly overambitious. One should have just struggled to make a living. The struggle mainly occurred between the "wild gourds" and the real world. Writing requires full concentration, preferably immersing oneself in 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 children, nor could I afford not to eat. Moreover, due to slow inspiration, I was in a state of creative stagnation for a long time, 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 torn apart and in a state of confusion and unease. 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. During these two years, there were very few moments of joy and contentment.