A HISTORY OF
MODERN
CHINESE
FICTION
1917-1957
BY
C. T. HSIA. This is the first
critical survey of modern Chinese
fiction.
It
describes the major
literary trends from the Literary
Revolution of 1917 to the whole–
sale purge of mainland authors
in 1957, and reviews the work
of
twenty important Chinese writers
against the historical and ideo–
logical background of these tu–
multuous years.
The powerful impact
of
Com–
munist literary theory is thor–
oughly investigated, with par–
ticular reference to the cultural
directives of Mao Tse-tung, and
careful attention is given to the
use of literature for propaganda
and political agitation.
The author analyzes represen–
tative Chinese novels and short
stories according to principles of
Western criticism. His compara–
tive method draws on the whole
range of Western fiction from
Cervantes to William Faulkner
to illuminate its profound influ–
ence on contemporary Chinese
fiction.
$8.50
Elm
Yale University Press
mo
New Haven, Connecticut
CONTRIBUTORS
FRANK KERMODE, who con–
tributes frequently to Partisan
Review, Encounter, and other
magazines, teaches at Manches–
ter University in England.
W. S. MERWIN is the author of
A Mask for Janus, The Dancing
Bears and other volumes of verse.
DONALD LEHMKUHL, who lives
in New York City, is translating
a book on Codeau to be pub–
lished by Grove Press.
JASCHA KESSLER, who teaches
at Hamilton College, has pub–
lished poems in many periodi–
cals and is at present at work
on a novel.
ROBERT M. ADAMS is in the
English department of Cornell
University.
SELMA FRAIBERG teaches at
The School of Social Work of
Tulane University in New Or–
leans.
KENNETH KOCH's most recent
book is Ko, or A Season on
Earth.
COLIN MACINNES is
0
young
English writer whose lotest novel
is Absolute Beginners.
