Eileen Chang

Author: Feng Zuyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: This book opens a new path to understanding Eileen Chang by analyzing the influence of her luxurious family background. Therefore, it is not only a century-long family history of the Feng family but also a biography of Eileen Chang from a different perspective. Eileen Chang (1920–1995) was originally from Fengrun, Tangshan, and was born in Shanghai. Her given name was Zhang Ling, and her English name was Eileen Chang, a transliteration of "Ai Ling." Around the age of three or four, she studied ancient Chinese books with her younger brother and the family tutor, enjoying reading both classical Chinese novels and popular fiction. Although the traditional family tutor was too far removed from the times, it laid a solid foundation in traditional Chinese culture for Eileen Chang. In 1930, she entered Huang's Primary School, beginning her education in modern schools. Later, she attended Shanghai St. Mary's Girls' School, where she gradually demonstrated her talent in studies. This period was a crucial time for the incubation of her literary career, and her six years of literary experimentation in high school paved the way for her early success. In 1939, she went to Hong Kong to study at the University of Hong Kong. In 1942, when Hong Kong fell, she returned to Shanghai and began writing articles for magazines. In 1943, she gained fame with her short stories "The Fragrance of Sandalwood—Incense" and "The Fragrance of Sandalwood—Second Incense." Soon after, she continued to publish novels such as "Jasmine Tea," "The Heart Sutra," "Love in a Fallen City," and "The Golden Lock." In 1944, she married Hu Lanqing, and in 1947, they divorced. In 1952, she returned to Hong Kong. In 1956, she married Lai Ya. In 1995, she passed away in her home in the United States.