Selected Works of Lao She (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Shu Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This book is specially curated by Shu Yi, the son of the renowned writer Lao She and former Director of the China Modern Literature Museum, with contributions from famous painters Ding Cong, Fang Cheng, Gu Bingxin, and Yuan Yunsheng, who have created 37 color and black-and-white illustrations for the novel. The book selects outstanding literary works of Lao She, including long, medium, and short stories that represent his artistic excellence. Notable works include the novel Rickshaw Boy, the medium-length stories Crescent Moon and My Whole Life, and the short stories Taking Office and The Divine.
Lao She's Autobiography at Age 40:
Shu Sheyu, styled Lao She, is now forty years old, with a sallow complexion and a beard. Born in Beijing, he lost his father at the age of three, leaving him fatherless. At the age of seven, when the emperor passed away, he was left without a ruler, making him rulerless. Fatherless and rulerless, he showed exceptional filial piety to his mother, though his bourgeois kindness did not entirely vanish. He studied the Three Hundred Classics without seeking deep understanding. Later, he attended a normal school, laying the foundation for his career as a teacher. In adulthood, he struggled to make a living as a teacher, finding it hard to get rich. He would buy lottery tickets, taking pride in winning the last prize, unwilling to resign himself to poverty. At the age of twenty-six, he resolved to write books. Though unlearned in science or philosophy, he turned to fiction, hoping to amuse people, nothing extraordinary about it. At thirty-four, he married and now has one daughter and one son, both mischievous and delightful. In his free time, he enjoys gardening but lacks skill, often ending up with leaves but no flowers, yet he cannot bear to give up. He reads everything but gains nothing, not worrying about it. He takes teaching and work very seriously, often suffering losses but never regretting them. That is all. If he lives another forty years, perhaps he might achieve something!
The book selects outstanding literary works of Lao She, including long, medium, and short stories that represent his artistic excellence. Notable works include the novel Rickshaw Boy, the medium-length stories Crescent Moon and My Whole Life, and the short stories Taking Office and The Divine.
Lao She's works are mostly drawn from the lives of lower-class urbanites, emphasizing the creation of vivid characters in various forms, focusing on the ups and downs of plot, and skillfully employing precise and fluent Beijing colloquial language. He excels at portraying characters' personalities and destinies through everyday details, giving his works a strong Beijing street flavor. His artistry is marked by wit, humor, and charm, making him deeply beloved by readers.
Lao She, originally named Shu Qingchun and styled Lao She, was of Manchu descent. He began literary in 1924 and, after the liberation, served as Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Chinese Writers' Association, as well as Chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles. He was also a member of the National People's Congress and a Standing Committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. His major works include the novels Rickshaw Boy and Four Generations Under One Roof, and the play Teahouse. In 1951, he was awarded the title of People's Artist and hailed as a master of the Chinese language.