Mao Dun's Collected Essays

Author: Wei Tao, edited by Chen Xiaoman
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-05-01
Features: Mao Dun (1896–1981), a modern writer and social activist. His original name was Shen Dehong, styled Yanbing. He was born in Wuzhen, Tongxiang County, Zhejiang Province in July 1896. In 1913, he entered the preparatory class of Peking University. After graduation, due to financial difficulties at home, he began working to support himself. In 1916, he joined the Commercial Press in Shanghai. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Dun served as the editor-in-chief of the People's Literature magazine, and held positions such as Minister of Culture of the Central People's Government, Honorary Chairman of the All-China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Chairman of the Chinese Writers' Association. This book selects over 370 essays written by Mao Dun from 1919 until shortly before his death, including social commentary, literary criticism, and miscellaneous writings, which are divided into five historical sections. Tang Tao wrote the preface for this book, where he mentions: "In the first half of the 1930s, there were as many as thirty major and minor debates in the literary world, and many of the articles in this collection of essays are closely related to these significant debates." This gives a glimpse of the era.