Outline of Western History: Manuscript by Zhang Wentian

Author: [USA] Langdon White
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: A precious manuscript hidden in obscurity for 80 years – An Outline of Western History! An Outline of Western History is a translation of the renowned popular history The Story of Mankind (now translated as The Story of Mankind) by the famous American historian Langdon White, completed by Zhang Wentian when he returned to Shanghai in 1924 to work as an editor at the Commercial Press. The translation was never published in time, and Zhang Wentian was one of the earliest Chinese writers to translate the book. The manuscript offers a unique perspective and viewpoint. Unfortunately, this manuscript was not included in the later publication of Zhang Wentian’s translated works, making this photocopied publication of great value for studying Zhang Wentian.
Langdon White’s The Story of Mankind was first published in 1921 and was beloved by readers for its simple yet engaging narrative style and vivid, fluid prose. It has been translated into over 20 languages. Zhang Wentian was one of the earliest translators of the book into Chinese. He believed that the book “only briefly mentions China and India, which have thousands of years of cultural history, in Chapter 42 of the original, and does so perfunctorily. Regrettably, even this brief mention contains many errors! I think removing this chapter would not harm the readers, and since the book is centered on Europeans and Americans, it would be more accurate to change the title to An Outline of Western History.” This reflects his exceptional critical spirit. At the end of Chapter 58, “The Liberation Movement,” he directly inserted the success of the socialist revolution led by communists in Russia, offering readers a new hope for social progress.
At the same time, due to Zhang Wentian’s extraordinary literary talent, his translation is precise and fluent, making it a distinctive feature of this version. An Outline of Western History is the oldest authentic manuscript among the existing research materials on Zhang Wentian, as well as a rare early manuscript by a key leader of our Party. The book also includes letters Zhang Wentian wrote to the Commercial Press editors Zuo Shunsheng and Zhou Baodi, as well as illustrations from the original Langdon White text used for the translation.