Xiang Xing Ji

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Xiang Xing San Ji (Journey to Xiang), a collection of crystal-clear, simple prose that embodies a natural and spontaneous style of writing. Shen Congwen wrote numerous home letters and sketches during his journey back to his hometown after parting ways with his newlywed wife, using these materials to create the prose. Some of the surviving letters and sketches are presented together with Xiang Xing San Ji for the first time. Back then, Hunan was far from a peaceful era—after the Battle of Changsha, notices offering rewards for capturing Mao Zedong and Zhu De were posted in places like Changde; a few days after returning to Fenghuang, a battle was raging in Tongren, a hundred miles away, and the warlord Chen Qizhen had mobilized three thousand reinforcements to gather in Fenghuang, soon joining the fight. In his letters, Shen deliberately wrote with a light tone to comfort his distant family, but attentive readers can discern more in the prose.