Reflections on Chinese and Western Literatures

Author: Liu Ou Fan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: Follow the sentimental and lingering Yu Dafu, the ethereal and graceful Xu Zhimo, and immerse yourself in the romantic world of the May Fourth intellectuals; trace the unique and rugged Li Jinfa, the melancholic and lonely Dai Wangshu, and explore the modern style of the 1930s; comment on Lu Xun, who carried the burden of tradition and stepped out of its shadow, and cite Gao Xiaosheng, who practiced the charm of irony in writing; admire the humanistic spirit of Zola, and gather the brilliant fruits of Seferis; laugh and forget with Kundera, and share solitude with García Márquez. Professor Liu Ou Fan travels between East and West, his words reflecting his true nature, his thoughts and narratives "neither Chinese nor Western, yet both Chinese and Western," "Europeanized yet not without the Eastern 'Fan' sound." He ponders literature, and more so, records the heart's journey between the East and the West. This book collects academic essays and reflections that the author has published in newspapers in recent years. Consistently in content, it reflects the author's attention, commentary, and thoughts on modern Chinese literature, especially mainland China, and world literature, particularly Eastern and Latin American literature. It is a product of a scholar with both Eastern and Western academic backgrounds, wandering and turning between Chinese and Western cultures. The book's insightful perspectives on Chinese and Western literature offer profound inspiration for thinking about these literatures.