Tragic Land - Masterpieces of Contemporary Artists

Author: Wang Anyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: When it comes to Wang Anyi, those who are somewhat familiar with Chinese literary circles would not feel unfamiliar. Wang Anyi is a unique and rich presence in contemporary Chinese literature. From her 1981 work "Rain, Rain, Rain" to her 2000 novel "Fuping," over the past 20 years, Wang Anyi has consistently written with resilience and joy about her life experiences, spiritual adventures, and aspirations for life. Her essays exude a genuine and simple charm of life, devoid of ornate or overly embellished language, nor do they display any deliberate pretense. Each essay is a life in itself, a microcosm of a real life, simple and unadorned—so much so that it seems one can almost smell the earthy simplicity and kindness of the yellow soil. This book selects five of her short stories and novellas. It is one of the volumes in the "Representative Works of Contemporary Masters," which features selected works of six "literary pillars": Shu Ting, Su Tong, Wang Anyi, Can Xue, Liu Xinglong, and Zhang Xin. These six writers have been devoted to literature since the 1980s, viewing literature as a life-affirming endeavor worthy of lifelong dedication. If creative time is also a form of life, then those who have been engaged in writing for over two decades can be considered middle-aged. They are no longer young avant-garde figures who suddenly emerged into the literary scene, shocking and startling the world; nor are they literary giants who wield influence and uphold tradition; nor are they newcomers who seek attention through wild antics or self-promotion. They have already established their own creative resumes and reputations, developed fixed literary perspectives and market channels, and forged unique writing styles that bear their personal imprint. Let us glimpse the trajectory of their literary creations through their works.