The Literature of China in the Twentieth Century / Edition 1

by Bonnie McDougall, Kam Louie

Overview

In this ground-breaking book, Bonnie S. McDougall and Kam Louie present the first comprehensive, integrated survey of twentieth-century Chinese literature. The Literature of China in the Twentieth Century traces the development of Chinese literature from the Boxer Rebellion, when the strains of Western influence first emerged, to the Tiananmen Massacre, when dissident poets, such as Bei Dao, earned international acclaim and indefinite exile from the mainland.

Each of the book's three chronological sections contains individual chapters examining the poetry, drama, and fiction of the period and includes an introduction outlining the historical and social context of the individual writers and their works. By analyzing this captivating literary tradition in terms of subject, theme, language, structure, style, intended audience, and cultural impact, the authors present a vivid picture of this important literature and a unique window on twentieth-century Chinese society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231110853
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	11/23/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.35(w) x 8.48(h) x 1.28(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Bonnie S. McDougall is professor of Chinese at Edinburgh University and translator of many works of poetry and fiction. She is the author of a number of books, including The Yellow Earth: A Film by Chen Kaige with a Complete Transcript of the Film.Kam Louie is professor of Chinese at the University of Queensland and author of a number of books on Chinese literature and culture. He is coauthor of The Politics of Chinese Language and Culture and editor of Asian Studies Review.

Table of Contents

I: 1900-1937
1. Introduction
2. Towards a New Culture
3. Poetry: The Transformation of the Past
4. Fiction: The Narrative Subject
5. Drama: Writing Performance
II: 1938-1965
6. Return to Tradition
7. Fiction: Searching for Typicality
8. Poetry: The Challenge of Popularisation
9. Drama: Performing for Politics
III: 1966-1989
10. The Reassertion of Modernity
11. Drama: Revolution and Reform
12. Fiction: Exploring Alternatives
13. Poetry: The Challenge of Modernity
14. Conclusion

What People are Saying About This

Howard Goldblatt

We have long needed a readable, comprehensive, objectively written, and well-organized history of twentieth-century Chinese literature; with this book we will have one.

Editorial Reviews

The most comprehensive scholarly overview of twentieth-century Chinese poetry, fiction, and drama ever published in English.... Outstanding.

Choice

The pragmatic virtues of this important book make it an indispensable work for newcomers to the field, as well as professionals engaged in the research and teaching of modern and contemporary Chinese literature. The wealth of detail it contains and the accessibility of its organization make it a highly efficient reference.

Journal of Asian Studies - Simon Patton

The pragmatic virtues of this important book make it an indispensable work for newcomers to the field, as well as professionals engaged in the research and teaching of modern and contemporary Chinese literature. The wealth of detail it contains and the accessibility of its organization make it a highly efficient reference.

— Simon Patton, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Journal of Asian Studies

The pragmatic virtues of this important book make it an indispensable work for newcomers to the field, as well as professionals engaged in the research and teaching of modern and contemporary Chinese literature. The wealth of detail it contains and the accessibility of its organization make it a highly efficient reference.

Simon Patton

We have long needed a readable, comprehensive, objectively written, and well-organized history of twentieth-century Chinese literature; with this book we will have one.

Howard Goldblatt

In this general history of modern Chinese literature, McDougall (Chinese literature, Edinburgh U.) describes the fiction, drama, and poetry, and the historical and cultural developments, in three key periods: first, 1900-37, when Western influences led to new concepts of literature; second, 1938-65, when the Japanese invasion and the rise of the Communists marked a return to Chinese traditions followed by political restraint of literary production; and third, 1966-89, when underground literature set the stage for an era of experimentation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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