British Literature Selection. 3: English

Author: Yang Qishen et al. (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The Selected Readings in British Literature was originally compiled and annotated by the Department of Foreign Languages at Fudan University and was planned to be divided into two volumes. The first volume covered the period from the 14th century to the second half of the 19th century, while the second volume covered the late 19th century to the late 1930s. Following suggestions from various individuals, a third volume has been added, featuring works from the late 1930s to the 1970s. Each selection in the book consists of four parts: author introduction, preface, original text, and annotations. Some selected works, either due to their distinct themes or their ability to stand alone as chapters, do not include a preface. The writers and works are generally arranged in chronological order based on birth dates and publication dates. However, some writers and works have been slightly adjusted due to their literary schools, influence, and status, as they do not fit the above order. The selected works include a larger proportion of novels. While British novels may not be as outstanding as 19th-century Russian or French novels, they still have their charm in character portrayal, reflection of social life, and local color. When selecting writers and works, the focus was generally on those with established reputations. Some writers, though highly regarded in the UK and the West, were excluded due to their excessive "exoticism" and repulsive erotic descriptions.