The novels of Mao Dun

Author: Mao Dun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Among modern Chinese literary writers, Mao Dun is renowned for his novels, especially as a master of the long novel, leaving a significant mark on the history of modern Chinese literature. This seems to be recognized even by the writer himself. People remember that in his later years, when he donated 250,000 yuan of his manuscript fees to the Writers' Association, he also hoped to establish a literary prize for long novels to reward the best annual long novels. In fact, his own diligent efforts set an example for Chinese fiction writing. When we think of long novels like The Rainbow, Night in Shanghai, The Story of a Transition Period, Corruption, and Red Leaves Are Like February Blossoms, we naturally recall his contributions to the long novel. The The Rainbow selected here is a long novel he wrote after completing his trilogy Eros. This novel was completed in April-June 1929 and serialized in Monthly Literary Magazine (Volume 20, Issues 6-8) in 1930, with a printed edition published by Kaixin Publishing House. This was precisely the period when he was living in exile in Japan after the Great Revolution. Both Eros and The Rainbow depict the lives of intellectual youth. However, they each exhibit distinct characteristics. Naturally, the former reflects the spiritual state of frustration among some intellectual youth before and after the Great Revolution, and thus the tone of the narrative is relatively somber.