Xiao Xiao Collection: Shen Congwen's Separate Collection

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-20
Features: Presented to the readers are both the purity and simplicity of rural women and the emptiness and intricacy of urban women. Their destinies differ due to their environments—former ones often follow nature, while the latter often deviate. It seems vulgar yet elegant, and elegant yet vulgar. The contrast reveals the author's slightly benevolent "bias" in judging beauty and ugliness. Before his passing, Shen Congwen once expressed a wish to carefully select his works and publish a series of compact little books. It was not about how exquisite or luxurious they were, but simply about clear handwriting, a simple yet elegant style, 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 from his past works to the front of each small booklet. These include essays, diaries, self-reflections, unfinished works, and mainly letters—all recently collected and organized, most of which have never been published. Regardless, these chapters either reflect the author's views on society, literary creation, and historical and literary research at the time, or 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.