Rough Seas Biography

Author: Han Bangqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features: The Story of the Sea Flower was highly praised by Hu Shih, who wrote a preface for its re-publication. His original words were: “The Sea Flower is a masterpiece of Wu dialect literature. The formal establishment of Su Bai literature should be traced back to The Sea Flower. Han Zi Yun and his The Story of the Sea Flower can truly be said to have opened up a new chapter in Chinese literature. I hope they (Wu-speaking writers) will continue to develop this mature trend of Wu dialect literature. The victory of The Sea Flower is not only the victory of the author but also the victory of the movement of Wu dialect literature.” Eileen Chang also loved the book and successfully translated it into Mandarin in the 1980s. In a letter to Hu Shih, she mentioned: “The Awakening of a Family and The Story of the Sea Flower are written in either thick or light tones, but both are equally excellent realistic works. I often feel indignant about them, always thinking they should be world-renowned classics.” This book is a novel from the late Qing Dynasty in China, primarily depicting brothels. It follows the story of Zhao Pu Zhai and Zhao Er Bao, two brothers who move from the countryside to Shanghai out of necessity and eventually fall into decline. Centered around Shanghai brothels, it also touches on officials and merchants, creating a cast of diverse prostitutes, madams, clients, and servants with different experiences and personalities. Its artful structure of interwoven and subtle narratives, as well as its plain and natural white-style writing, has long been admired. The dialogue in the book is entirely in Suzhou dialect, lively and vivid, pioneering the genre of dialect novels.