Xiao Xiao Collection

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: When Xiao Xiao became a wife, she was only twelve years old and had a young husband who was not yet three years old. The husband was nine years younger than her and had not been weaned for long. According to local customs, after the marriage, she called him her younger brother. With the new son, the five-year-old brother seemed to belong entirely to Xiao Xiao. Whatever she did or where she went, the husband always followed her closely. The husband was a bit afraid of her, treating her like a mother and not daring to cause trouble. Their relationship was "not bad." Presented to the readers are both the simplicity and purity of a mountain village woman and the emptiness and complexity of a city woman. Due to different environments, their fates vary: the former tends to follow nature, while the latter often goes astray. It appears vulgar yet is elegant, and it appears elegant yet is vulgar. The contrast reveals the author's slightly biased yet well-intentioned "preference" in judging beauty and ugliness. Before his death, Shen Congwen once expressed a wish to carefully select his works and publish a series of small, pocket-sized booklets. It was not about how exquisite or luxurious they were, but about clear handwriting, simple yet elegant designs, and a comfortable appearance. The small size made them easy to collect, carry, and read. This selected edition differs from previous compilations. We have added some texts not found in his past works to the front of each booklet. These include essays, diaries, self-reflections, unfinished works, and mainly letters—all collected and organized in recent years, most of which have not been published before. Regardless, these chapters either reflect the author's views on society, literary creation, or historical and literary research at that time, or they reveal his circumstances, inner conflicts, joys, sorrows, and frustrations. Publishing them may help readers gain a broader understanding of his works, his character, and the historical context of that era.