History of Modern Chinese Fiction

Author: C. T. Hsia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The elegance of style and the firmness of insight in A History of Modern Chinese Fiction distinguish it from the dry, bureaucratic arguments of official registers, capable of broadening minds and purifying spirits. It is not only a masterpiece of its time but also destined for posterity. — Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Qian Zhongshu
Qian Zhongshu’s A History of Modern Chinese Fiction is now widely recognized as a classic. It truly pioneered a new field, clearing the way for later American scholars conducting similar research. We have all benefited from Hsia’s work. — Chinese University of Hong Kong Leo Ou-fan Lee
The outstanding feature of Qian’s book is that it is a serious English work dedicated to the study of modern Chinese fiction. Even more impressive is that it is the best of its kind available. Not only experts but also every reader interested in China or literature will be drawn to it. — University of Chicago David T. Roy
The critical perspective presented in A History of Modern Chinese Fiction allows Hsia to stand shoulder to shoulder with the most renowned critics in the West at the time. More importantly, four decades after its publication, the book remains deeply relevant to contemporary critical issues. Works like A History of Modern Chinese Fiction have fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the modernization of Chinese literature. Later scholars must fully absorb and critique Hsia’s arguments before they can innovate and establish new paradigms. — Harvard University Wang Deyi
C. T. Hsia’s A History of Modern Chinese Fiction is an influential yet controversial academic work on the study of modern Chinese fiction. It can be said that almost all scholars of modern Chinese literature since the late 1970s have been, to some extent, influenced by this book. Of course, as the author is a Chinese-American who worked in the U.S. for a long time, his theoretical stance, viewpoints, and ideological inclinations differ from ours, leading to different perspectives and critical standards in the book. To promote academic research and expand exchanges, publishing scholarly works with diverse ideas, viewpoints, and inclinations is highly meaningful.