Cao Yu's Autobiography

Author: Cao Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Writers often struggle to articulate their own creations, and I am no exception. Analyzing works relies on critics. However, writers are clear about their own feelings. Love, hatred, and sympathy are all well-defined. We write only when we truly feel something. — Cao Yu
For any literary biographer, the most precious material is the autobiographical writings left by the subject, even if they are just a few words. Therefore, private writings like the subject’s letters, especially diaries, are highly sought after by biographers, often regarded as treasures. At the same time, there is a strong desire to read the subject’s own autobiographical writings. Once they pass through a biographer’s hands, they feel like scratching an itch through a coat, especially when an unremarkable biographer writes about a masterful subject. — Fu Guangming
Autobiography is not the same as self-narration. I believe the main difference between self-narration and autobiography lies in its lack of a structured, chapter-by-chapter format. It is often a collection of fragmented pieces written spontaneously, possibly limited by time, energy, environment, and other factors. As a result, self-narration has a more profound literary flavor than autobiography. Autobiographies read like a long, uninterrupted river, flowing seamlessly. Self-narrations, however, are like gentle streams, each piece independent, speaking for itself, eventually forming great rivers—yet they offer a unique charm. This book is a self-narration, not an autobiography, consisting of the subject’s life stories told in prose, letters, or even diary entries. Some are the subject’s original full articles, restored to their original form; others are slightly edited versions of the original text; and some are just fragments of the subject’s letters or diary entries. To help readers better remember history and reflect on life through listening, the editor has added some micro-narrative subheadings on behalf of the subject. Additionally, the rich illustrations silently tell stories, witnessing the subject’s life and history.