A talented scholar of the generation, Qian Zhongshu

Author: Tang Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Tang Yan, the author of A Scholar of the Generation: Qian Zhongshu, is a Ph.D. in history from New York University. He began engaging with Qian Zhongshu's works in the late 1940s and became a "Qian enthusiast." After meeting Qian Zhongshu in the late 1970s in the United States, he has maintained correspondence with Qian and Yang Juan for over 20 years, gathering a vast amount of material on Qian. His deep immersion, meticulous research, and diligent effort have made this book the most comprehensive biography of Qian Zhongshu to date. Qian Zhongshu passed away in 1998, and the loss of dear friends brought immense sorrow. Living overseas, Tang Yan has cherished memories of this "contemporary Chinese sage." To fulfill his private vow from 20 years ago—"I want to write a biography of Qian Zhongshu"—Tang Yan resolved to create a "reliable and vivid biography." He adhered to the principle of "rigorous sourcing and concise writing," ensuring that every statement in the book is fact-based and well-documented. The footnotes are exceptionally detailed, a rarity in biographies. The footnotes and the main text complement each other, creating a harmonious whole. Compared to other biographies, this one "elaborates on what others overlook and overlooks what others elaborate on," correcting factual errors and misconceptions. This biography is not a monograph on Qian Zhongshu's creative or academic achievements. Instead, it briefly records the life of this outstanding figure, Qian Zhongshu, and provides a relatively comprehensive reflection of his unparalleled memory, his profound knowledge spanning East and West, ancient and modern, his eloquence, his wit and wisdom, and his composed and unflappable personality. It is a "philosophical biography." Humorous moments are scattered throughout the book, allowing readers to marvel at the wisdom of this genius while laughing at the insurmountable gap between him and ordinary people.
Tang Yan, the author of this book, is a Ph.D. in history from New York University, yet his interest in literature seems to surpass that of history. He admires Chinese and foreign writers and scholars such as Hu Shi, Xu Zhimo, Ye Gongchao, Faulkner, Hemingway, and Updike, but his greatest admiration is for Qian Zhongshu. Tang Yan began engaging with Qian Zhongshu's works in the late 1940s. After meeting Qian Zhongshu in the late 1970s in the United States, he maintained correspondence with Qian and Yang Juan for over 20 years, during which time he extensively collected materials related to Qian. His deep immersion, meticulous research, and diligent effort have made this book the most comprehensive biography of Qian Zhongshu to date.