So prosperous

Author: Wang De-wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Urban and literature are one of the key focuses of modern and contemporary literary studies. On this topic, I have written numerous articles over the past ten years, which are now compiled into a collection and published by Shanghai Bookstore Press. Urban and literature are one of the key focuses of modern and contemporary literary studies. The author of this book compiles a collection of articles written over the years on this topic and publishes it with Shanghai Bookstore Press. These articles are basically centered around four cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Through literature, particularly novels, I explore the historical context of these four cities, the close interaction between cities and writers, and also describe the urban vibrancy depicted in the texts. The title "So Prosperous" simply highlights the essence of urban-literature. The transformations experienced by Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei over the years, and the rich imagination they have inspired, are enough to make us ponder that the prosperity of cities often resembles legends, while the ups and downs behind these legends are especially worth savoring. These articles are basically centered around four cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Through literature, particularly novels, I explore the historical context of these four cities, the close interaction between cities and writers, and also describe the urban vibrancy depicted in the texts. The title "So Prosperous" simply highlights the essence of urban-literature. The transformations experienced by Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei over the years, and the rich imagination they have inspired, are enough to make us ponder that the prosperity of cities often resembles legends, while the ups and downs behind these legends are especially worth savoring. Luoyang in "The Records of the Splendid Monasteries of Luoyang," Bianjing in "Dream of the Splendid Capital," and Yangzhou in "The Record of Yangzhou by Boat": the traces of a fleeting prosperity, only in words. One day, Shanghai in Wang Anyi's "The Long Love Song," Beijing in Zhang Beihai's "The Hidden Blade," Hong Kong in Dong Qizhang's "The Prosperous Records of V City," and Taipei in Zhu Tianxin's "The Ancient Capital," may become the best memories of these four cities in our time? This book was originally published in Hong Kong and included in the essay series edited by Liu Shiming at Tian Di Publishing House—although most of the text consists of academic papers. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of Professor Luo Gang from East China Normal University and Mr. Wang Weisong from Shanghai Bookstore Press, a simplified version is now launched, with some changes in content: additional texts on Beijing have been added, and the sections on Shanghai and Taipei have been reorganized. Here, I extend my gratitude once again to Professor Liu Shiming, Mr. Yan Chunjiu from Tian Di Publishing House, Professor Luo Gang, and Mr. Wang Weisong.