Readings in Chinese Prose of the 20th Century (Contemporary)

Author: Yuan Yonglin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: It is rare for a country to have a literary tradition of prose as long and magnificent as China's, or as many people writing prose, or as a knowledge valuing prose as highly as China does. Many scholars, poets, novelists, and even scientists, have devoted significant effort and creativity to cultivating the field of prose. Contemporary prose is not only abundant in quantity but also features outstanding masterpieces, leaving one with a sense of "wherever you go, you can find fragrant grass." — Pan Xulan, Readings of 20th Century Chinese Prose
This anthology is divided into three volumes. The "Modern Volume" selects representative works of renowned prose writers before 1949, such as Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Bing Xin, and Zhu Ziqing. The "Contemporary Volume" focuses on the works of famous prose writers from mainland China since 1949, including Yang Shuo, Deng Tuo, Yu Qiujiu, and Shi Tiesheng. The "Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Volume" compiles the works of prominent prose writers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau after 1949, such as Yu Guangzhong, Zhang Xiaofeng, Dong Qiao, and Xiao Si. All works are arranged in chronological order based on their writing or publication dates.
Each volume includes an "Introduction" that outlines the overall style and development of prose in different stages and regions. Following each selected piece is an "Analysis" that provides an in-depth examination of the stylistic features and linguistic characteristics of writers from various schools and genres. The three volumes are relatively independent yet collectively form a colorful and vibrant panorama of 20th-century Chinese prose.