Contemporary Western Literary Masterpieces: Close Reading (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Shen Liyan, Zhang Lixin, Editors
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The title "Close Reading" is chosen to avoid superficial appreciation that misses the mark, aiming instead to genuinely assist readers in their interpretation. To this end, we have strived to adhere to the following principles in our writing: The works are challenging to understand yet demand interpretation, so we have avoided the temptation to simplify or evade difficulties. We have refrained from ambiguous or evasive language, striving instead to offer clear and well-reasoned opinions based on close reading and balanced discussion, providing readers with a more coherent understanding. The idea that "poetry is open to interpretation" or "literature is hard to define" cannot serve as an excuse to shirk the necessary responsibility of explanation. It is precisely through continuous interpretation that the historical and open nature of understanding unfolds and is realized. To uphold this principle, all the authors of this book have devoted considerable effort, contributing their wisdom and dedication. Of course, our work is far from perfect, and our modesty stems from genuine limitations. As the great literary theorist Liu Xie lamented in his "The Heart of the Muses": "The meaning is indeed difficult to discern, and true understanding is rare—perhaps encountered only once in a thousand years!" In the face of those great literary masterpieces, we dare not claim to be true connoisseurs. What we can do is strive to understand them as best as we can, and to reveal as much as possible of their rich meanings and extraordinary value.