Little Town Annals

Author: Gao Yunlan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book follows the activities of the Xiamen League and concludes with the Xiamen Great Prison Break, authentically depicting the revolutionary situation in China in the 1930s and the thoughts and political demeanor of intellectuals. It successfully portrays the images of intellectuals of different types. The protagonist, He Jianping, is a revolutionary hero who is politically immature but loyal to the party. He is straightforward, not good at deep thinking, nor skilled in using revolutionary strategies and tactics, nor able to flexibly unite with moderate elements. However, he has a firm revolutionary determination and remains steadfast, courageous, and loyal to the revolution and the party in the face of enemies, in prison, and on the execution ground. During the escape struggle, he perseveres, bravely fights, cares for his comrades, and dedicates himself to the public, demonstrating the noble qualities of a revolutionary. Wu Jian differs from Jianping and is a more mature image of a revolutionary leader. He understands the party's revolutionary principles and strategies, possesses a high level of revolutionary vigilance, and does not easily trust his former lover after being arrested. In his struggle against his sworn brother and spy chief Zhao Xiong, he is clever, calm, and resolute. When leading the prison struggle, he remains clear-headed and meticulous, earning the trust of his comrades and ensuring the success of the prison break. Chen Simin shares similarities with Wu Jian but also has many differences. He thinks about problems more comprehensively and analyzes things deeply, handling matters prudently. Therefore, he disagrees with the claim that Shuyin is a spy and, against the majority opinion, clarifies the issue, which benefits the escape struggle. He is sincere, warm, and kind to others. He is serious and responsible in his work and bravely and steadfastly sacrifices in the escape struggle. The League member Ding Xiubei differs greatly from the above characters. She is pure and just, enthusiastic yet somewhat naive, and, driven by natural patriotic fervor, participates in many patriotic activities. Gradually maturing in the struggle, she bravely fights and remains steadfast in the enemy's prison, completely shedding certain weaknesses of petty-bourgeois women and becoming a young revolutionary intellectual. The author also portrays the image of intellectuals who turn reactionary, like Zhao Xiong. Initially, he was the same as Wu Jian, sharing a certain passion for resisting Japanese imperialism and progressive tendencies. However, later, he joined the Blue Shirts Society, became a spy, and became a traitor to his country, a murderer of revolutionaries. He sings the praises of servility as the highest virtue of humanity, yet cruelly betrays his friends, poisons his superiors, forces his sworn brother Chen Xiao to commit suicide, takes his fiancée, poisons his wife, and shamefully covets his wife's younger sister, killing numerous revolutionaries. He becomes a, deserving of contempt and hatred. The different paths taken by these intellectuals and the different personalities they exhibit reflect their individual qualities and also reflect the turbulent and complex revolutionary situation of that era. This novel excels at portraying the psychological activities of its characters, revealing their inner states to highlight their personalities, which is one of its important features. For example, when Jianping returns to Xiamen, seeing his former beloved Shuyin, Chen Simin, he feels uncomfortable. When Simin tells him that she already has a wife and children and encourages him to boldly love Xiubei, he feels some guilt. When he learns of Simin's wife's death, he is once again troubled, considering giving Xiubei to Simin. Through these descriptions, the noble sentiments of the revolutionary youth Jianping are vividly presented to the readers. This novel also skillfully uses dialogue and confessions to reveal characters' personalities. For instance, the spy chief Zhao Xiong praises the life philosophy of the fascist leader Hitler, advocating the value of servility, and says, "There is nothing more foolish than a soft heart. If you need it, you don't even have to hesitate to cut someone's head to exchange for a cigarette." This fully reveals the dark psychology of the killer Zhao Xiong and his extremely cruel nature. The plot of this novel is very rich in legend, depicting figures like Wu Qiyi, whose actions themselves carry a legendary quality. Many scenes in the book, such as the enmity between the He and Li families, the Xiamen Great Prison Break, and others, are written with tension, twists, and thrills, full of legendary color, which is one of the reasons the book attracts readers and one of its features.