Comrades and youth are not cheap.

Author: Eileen Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book is an unpublished of the renowned modern female writer Eileen Chang. Zhao Jue and En Juan were close friends in high school, coming from similar family backgrounds. As they progressed through school, marriage, and life, their fates subtly diverged. When they reunited in a foreign land, one was a struggling translator, while the other was thriving and gradually climbing the social ladder. The contrasting destinies of these two young women reflect the profound sense of life's unpredictability. The novel retains Eileen Chang's signature writing style, with vivid character portrayals and intricate plot development. Amidst a light-paced story, it conveys a melancholic and sense of life's ever-changing fortunes. The title is derived from Du Fu's "Eight Autumns," specifically the line: "Many of my schoolmates have become distinguished, while the wealthy of Wuling ride in fine attire." It already carries a tone of sorrow. This perhaps embodies the deeper meaning behind the novel's title, "None of My Schoolmates Are Poor."
A renowned expert on Eileen Chang, Chen Zishan, offers several specific critiques of "None of My Schoolmates Are Poor." First, he notes that the work was written in the 1970s, demonstrating Eileen Chang's continued efforts in creative writing during her later years. Second, the novel reflects her attempt to explore new literary themes. The story spans from the 1930s to the 1970s, spans locations from Shanghai to the United States, and touches on significant historical events of the time—uncommon elements in her previous works. Third, Chen Zishan highlights the novel's unique narrative perspective. Eileen Chang writes about four female students in the same dormitory at a Christian school, their friendships, and life trajectories, which bear a strong autobiographical hue.
This book is Eileen Chang's only unpublished manuscript, hidden away for over 20 years, now finally revealed! "None of My Schoolmates Are Poor" tells the story of the evolving friendship between two girls, En Juan and Zhao Jue. The narrative begins with their reunion in Shanghai and reminiscing about their past. En Juan married a Jew named Ben Li, later immigrating to Washington, D.C., where Ben Li became a prominent immigrant. Zhao Jue, however, faced a less fortunate destiny. Years later, upon their reunion, their once-equal social standings reveal stark disparities. Perhaps this is the deeper significance behind the title, "None of My Schoolmates Are Poor."
The dialogue is filled with Eileen Chang's characteristic wit, and the characters are vividly portrayed with meticulous plot development. Amidst a light-paced story, it conveys a melancholic and sense of life's unpredictability. The novel's candid depiction of the sexual psychology of Christian schoolgirls in the 1930s and 1940s, as well as the realistic portrayal of the life choices of overseas intellectuals in the 1950s and 1960s, are unprecedented in her earlier works. The novel undoubtedly carries a degree of autobiographical influence, while also skillfully weaving in elements such as the American leftist journalist Agnes Smedley and the explosion of China's first atomic bomb. These details showcase Eileen Chang's effort to broaden her thematic scope, reflecting the daily lives of ordinary people amidst turbulent times, shaping the unique personalities and destinies of her female protagonists. Thus, the novel takes on the significance of a social and psychological history of its era.