Mao Dun (Walking Between Ideals and Reality)

Author: Zhong Guisong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: This is a character-focused book that highlights historical photographs and visual materials. It is said that we are living in an era of images, and this statement holds considerable truth. Regardless of television, film, CDs, and other media dominating cultural consumption and reading trends, the rise of old photographs, old cartoons, and old illustrations as historical relics alone demonstrates that people are no longer satisfied with experiencing life and history through text. They are increasingly inclined to read about people and history through historical images. Indeed, individual life scenes, portraits, and even handwritten pages often contain richer and more unique content than textual descriptions, thereby capturing readers' interest and sparking their imagination. Mao Dun, a master of modern Chinese literature, was born in Wuzhen, a water town in northern Zhejiang. The passing of his father and the decline of his family's fortunes spurred this precocious teenager to study diligently and demonstrated his literary talent at an early age. By chance, after completing his pre-university studies, Mao Dun joined the Commercial Press, which led him onto the path of literary creation. This book not only narrates the motivations, development, and resulting literary works of Mao Dun's journey into literary creation but also emphasizes his clever negotiations with (Sheng Shicai), the governor of Xinjiang, and his use of political wisdom to protect himself or his friends during various political storms. Through these accounts, the book showcases Mao Dun's unique political acumen alongside his literary talent. Additionally, the book is richly illustrated with over 100 images, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the vibrant colors of the present while reflecting on the black-and-white photographs of the early 20th century amidst the smooth flow of the text.