Lu Xun's Prose. Illustrated Treasures Edition (Condition: 80% new)

Author: Lu Xun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The exquisite prose and beautiful illustrations complement each other, making it both a masterpiece for appreciation and a fine choice for collection and gifting. Chinese prose has a long and rich history. Over thousands of years of prose creation, whether expressing emotions, stating intentions, describing scenes, or remembering people, it has reflected the changes of the times and the thoughts and feelings of the people. In the new literature of the 20th century, these fine traditions of Chinese prose were not only fully inherited but also continuously innovated and developed. To showcase the achievements of Chinese prose since the 20th century, we edited and published the "Treasures of Chinese Prose" in the early days of the new century, totaling thirty volumes. Five years have passed, and on this basis, we have meticulously compiled this "Illustrated Treasures of Chinese Prose," consisting of sixteen volumes. Through careful selection once again, this series not only adds over 50,000 new words to each volume but also accompanies them with precious photographs reflecting the authors' life journeys. Truly, the exquisite prose and beautiful illustrations complement each other, making it both a masterpiece for appreciation and a fine choice for collection and gifting.
Lu Xun's works exhibit rich diversity in both content and form. His prose includes collections that express emotions and state intentions, narrative prose that recounts and remembers people, and satirical essays that critique society, all of which have achieved great success. In terms of form, Lu Xun's prose is even more varied, showcasing extraordinary techniques and artistic expressions. Taking his prose collection " Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk" as an example, from an artistic perspective, the work is primarily narrative, combining narration with emotions, descriptions, and arguments. In its beautiful, poetic-like narration, sharp critiques often appear, and satirical, humorous, and ironic techniques of satire are frequently used. Coupled with natural and simple language and perfect white-wash techniques, it forms a unique artistic style. With his humorous and satirical pen, Lu Xun strikingly expresses profound philosophies, leaving readers to ponder endlessly. For instance, each piece in "Wild Grass" conveys a "small feeling" rich in philosophical meaning, but the author endows these "small feelings" with vibrant and diverse artistic imagery. He boldly employs extraordinary and unique artistic concepts, using the fantastical to convey the real, and strongly expresses his "small feelings" in exaggerated forms, blending solemnity with humor, and subtlety with wit. By humorously presenting common phenomena in life, he achieves satirical effects.
Most of Lu Xun's prose is grand in scope and profound in reasoning, often overwhelming opponents with irrefutable logic and displaying an unrestrained artistic style. In "Further Remarks on the Collapse of the Leifeng Pagoda," for example, Lu Xun uses a typical example: "The collapse of the Leifeng Pagoda was because the villagers believed that placing its bricks in their homes would bring peace, good fortune, and turn misfortune into good luck. So, one dug, and the other dug, and after much time, it collapsed." This exemplifies the traditional faults of the Chinese people: superstition, ignorance, and "servile destruction." In the essay, Lu Xun cites historical events and figures from ancient and modern times to support his arguments, making the content deeper and more powerful.
Lu Xun's prose has a strong sense of imagery, with direct descriptions such as in "In Memory of Liu Hezhen," where he simply and directly portrays the image of Liu Hezhen, a student killed in the "Female Normal School Incident": "I usually thought that a student who could resist pressure from power and oppose a powerful and influential principal must be sharp and spirited, but she often smiled and had a gentle attitude, so we met more often, and she still smiled gently and maintained a gentle attitude." As for metaphorical imagery, they are, each carrying profound and typical significance.