Six Records of a Floating Life

Author: Shen Fu (original author); Lin Yutang (translator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-02-01
Features: Su Hao wrote "Six Records of a Floating Life" and vowed to translate it into English, allowing the world to glimpse the tranquil and lovely life of a Chinese couple. The translation was completed intermittently during the spring and summer of the 24th year of the Republic of China and published in the English magazines "Tianxia" and "Xifeng." Many British readers were so captivated that they couldn't put it down, showing how deeply this small book resonated. I deeply loved the book and revised it no less than ten times; after "Tianxia" was launched, it was further proofread and corrected. Bei Fu had a friend, Zhang Peilin, who pointed out several errors, and how difficult translation truly is. — Lin Yutang
"Six Records of a Floating Life" is Lin Yutang's masterpiece of translation. He claimed to have revised it no fewer than ten times and received great acclaim after its publication in British magazines. The original "Six Records of a Floating Life" was a widely themed autobiographical work by Shen Fu, a Qing Dynasty "literary enthusiast." With simple and vivid prose, the author described every aspect of his life, including his marriage and love life, family changes, leisurely interests, and travel writings. The text reveals the author's unique outlook on life, values, personality, and aesthetic tastes.