As she grows up, cuicui discovers that life is full of the unexpected and that she alone will make the choices that determine her destiny. Shen congwen is a chinese writer formerly romanized as shen. Translating shen congwens xiaoxiao, by eugene eoyang the transformations of work and life. Border town by shen congwen, translated by jeffrey c. An illustrious grandfather, who was general, a father who was a military doctor but never at home. Border town by shen congwen new in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, border town is a classic chinese novelbanned by maos regimethat captures the ideals of rural china through the moving story of a young woman and her grandfather. The symbolized countryfolks in shen congwens the border. He was the fourth of nine children born to shen zongsi, a hanmiao, and huang suying, a tujia. He was born shen yuehuan on december 28, 1902 in the town of fenghuang then known as zhengan in west hunan province.
His family is a blend of the dominant han population and the miao and tujia minorities in the beautiful region. Shen congwen is one of pioneers of modern chinese literature, and with border town one of his most famous books, it is easy to see why. Shen congwens former residence is the most dazzling point of the humanistic landscape in the scenic spot of phoenix ancient city. Shen congwen, a novelist whose works provide a vivid portrayal of chinese rural life during the chaotic warlord era of the 1920s and 1930s, died of a heart attack, a former student said friday. Shen congwen s former residence is the most dazzling point of the humanistic landscape in the. Although published in 1934, the book has the timeless feel of a fairy tale. Falling under the native soil genre of writings, shen describes in detail the daily lives of the villagers in a semifictional town in the authors home province of hunan. Former residence of shen congwen travel guidebook must. Bacons journey life in mountain villages is much more outdated than you think. At age 16 he joined a regiment in yuanling, where he spent the next few years adding to his scanty education and observing the border. Adobe drm border town is based on the background of the border town between sichuan and hunan province in 1930s. May, 1988 shen congwen, a novelist, shortstory writer, lyricist and passionate champion of literary and intellectual independence, died tuesday in beijing, his relatives reported.
He was known for combining the vernacular style with classical chinese writing techniques. Other examples in shens works include hui ming of hui ming and old mrs. English translations of shen congwens masterwork, bian cheng border town, by jeffrey c. First published in 1934, border town brings to life the story of cuicui, a young country girl coming of age during a time of national turmoil.
He lived with the couple for some time before the three writers moved to shanghai together in 1927. The symbolized countryfolks in shen congwens the border town 256 attachment is to her dog. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Border town by shen congwen book cover, description, publication history. New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, border town. Border town is a chinese novel written by shen congwen. The novel depicts the story of a teenage girl named cuicui in small outskirts of a village. In the 1930s he gained fame with his longer works such as border town and the long river. A moving testament to the human spirit, border town is a beautifully written novel, considered shen congwen s masterpiece for its brilliant portrayal of chinese rural life before the communist revolution. This novel describes the natural conditions and social customs of the southern hunan province in the theme of lyric.
It revolves around the yearold cuicui living with her grandfather in a remote village. New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, bordertownis a classic chinese novelbanned by maos regim. The man is in charge of a small local ferry, and the girl is his orphaned granddaughter, cuicui. Shen congwen 19021988 is one of the most influential writers in. Regional culture and identity plays a much bigger role in his writing than that of other major early modern chinese writers. Shen congwen, 85, a champion of freedom for writers in china. The symbolized countryfolks in shen congwen s the border town 256 attachment is to her dog. Shen congwen 19021988 border town 1934 169 pages this wonderful novel provides a look into life in china before the communist revolution.
August 2, 2010 leave a comment novels by bertrand mialaret with lao she and lu xun, shen congwen is without doubt one of the great writers of the last century, but for shen congwen, no further translations, he has to be discovered by a new generation. Shen congwen, december 28, 1902 may 10, 1988, formerly romanized as shen tsungwen, was one of the greatest modern chinese writers, on par with lu xun. This coming of age novel has been adapted for a chinese film as well. It is a short work 170 pages with notes and has the feel of a story one might imagine while viewing a painting of a pastoral scene in an american context, say a painting by winslow homer. Border town shen congwen s best collection hardcover chinese edition author. Dec 05, 2016 border town is a chinese novel written by shen congwen. It has built an exhibition room for shen congwens life stories. Shen congwen 19021988 is one of the most influential writers in chinas modern history. With lao she and lu xun, shen congwen is without doubt one of the great writers of the last century, but for shen congwen, no further translations, he has to be discovered by a new generation. Shen congwen is a chinese writer formerly romanized as shen tsungwen. Originally published in 1934 by author shen congwen, this beautifully written novel.
A moving testament to the human spirit, border town is a beautifully written novel, considered shen congwens masterpiece for its brilliant portrayal of chinese rural life before the communist revolution. Falling under the native soil genre of writings, shen describes in detail the daily lives of the villagers in a semifictional town in. New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, is a classic chinese novelbanned by maos regimethat captures the ideals of rural through the moving story of a young woman and her grandfather. Miao by his grandmother and tujia by his mother, he claims that he is a. Read border town a novel by congwen shen available from rakuten kobo. Originally published in 1934 by author shen congwen, this beautifully written novel tells the story of cuicui, a young country girl who is coming of age in rural. Shen congwen books list of books by author shen congwen. The border town written by shen congwen is the 2nd of the 100 greatest chinese classic in 20 century. After her mothers death, she becomes dutiful to her old.
The symbolized countryfolks in shen congwens the border town. A tale of crime and punishment from shen congwen translated by jeffrey kinkley. New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, border townis a classic chinese novelbanned by. On shen congwens texts of selfexplication, by isabelle rabut. Traveling with the contingent, which usually stationed at the borders of hunan, sichuan and guizhou provinces, shen witnessed endless border conflicts and the lives of miao tribesmen. Much of his writing, concentrating on the difficult suburban life during chinas painful transformation in the early 20th century, usually end with his. Hence the importance of the recent release in france of the journey to xiang and other short stories1 that illustrates the talent of the writer in various styles. Sketches of a trip to hunan chinese edition author.
New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, border town is a classic chinese novelbanned by maos regimethat captures the ideals of rural china through the moving story of a young woman and her grandfather. This place exists in hunan and i will show you this town in this video. New culture movement, chinese modern literature, social life and customs, fiction. Originally published in 1934 by author shen congwen, this beautifully written novel tells the story of cuicui, a young country girl who is coming of age in rural china in the tumultuous time before the communist.
Shen congwen is one of the greatest chinese writers of the prewar period. In late adolescence he chose the name shen congwen. So how fitting that i was lucky enough to receive border town, the precommunist revolution masterpiece by shen congwen 19021988, who although virtually unknown in the west, is considered one of chinas best modern writers. He is best known for his novels depicting the landscapes, folk and rural culture of his native hunan province. But for those reasons, like the writer of a previous generation, shen congwen, i had an early start on reading the great book of life. The yellow dog is an important character in the book.
The book itself seems to echo some trends in 18th century european continental literature which idealized and depicted peasants patronizingly as simple folks who have a good heart. Dec 05, 2010 shen congwen 19021988 border town 1934 169 pages this wonderful novel provides a look into life in china before the communist revolution. It is the story of a chinese girl and her grandfather who live near a town named caodong in the early part of the twentieth century. Shen congwen, 85, a champion of freedom for writers in. I was particularly interested in reading this account of peasant life in china. Shen congwen 28 december 1902 10 may 1988, formerly romanized as shen tsungwen, is considered to be one of the greatest modern chinese writers, on par with lu xun. In 1922, after serving five years in the militia in hunan, shen left for beijing to pursue higher education. Shen congwen is a chinese writer formerly romanized as shen read full article. Shen congwen s book border town is hard to pin down as a foreign reader who is mostly comfortable with western literature. Shen congwen, a novelist, shortstory writer, lyricist and passionate champion of literary and intellectual independence, died tuesday in beijing, his relatives reported. New in the harper perennial modern chinese classics series, border town is a classic chinese novelbanned by maos regimethat captures the ideals of rural china. Other examples in shen s works include hui ming of hui ming and old mrs.
When the novel begins cuicui is a young teenager, and in the years that. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. This wonderful novel provides a look into life in china before the communist. Shen congwen is the alias of shen yuehuan, a famous miao chinese writer and historian in the 20th century. Collections of his stories published in english include the chinese earth 1947. Shen congwen, author of fiction and prose who is commonly considered the greatest lyric novelist in modern china. Horses were being raced in this little county town, across parade grounds drenched by the sun in shimmering yellow. Shen congwen, december 28, 1902 may 10, 1988, formerly romanized as shen tsungwen, was one of the greatest modern chinese writers, on par with lu xun regional culture and identity plays a much bigger role in his writing than that of other major early modern chinese w.
By a narrow stream on the way to town was a little white pagoda, below which once lived a solitary familyis an excerpt from the book border town, known as bian cheng in chinese. It tells a story about a border town which has little connection with outside world in the early republic of china. Shen congwen s former residence has a history of more than a hundred years. Like any teenager, cuicui dreams of romance and finding true love. Aug 26, 2019 by a narrow stream on the way to town was a little white pagoda, below which once lived a solitary familyis an excerpt from the book border town, known as bian cheng in chinese.
Download read the border town 1936 by shen congwen in. Border town is set in a little mountain town called chadong, and centers on a solitary family. Cuicui green jade leads a quiet life with her grandfather, a ferryman, transporting passengers across a small stream near a frontier town. The book is regarded as shen congwens masterpiece for its splendid portrayal of chinese rural life. During a year in the reign of the guangxu emperor, 1875 1908. September 26 through october 3 this year is banned books week.
Shen congwen project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. First published in 1934, border town brings to life the story of cuicui, a young. Buy this book congwen writes movingly of rural china in this newly. Bacons journey visiting the border town a book written by shen congwen part two. His novel border town was banned under maos regime, only to become an inspiration to a new generation of chinese writers in the late twentieth century. Shen congwens former residence has a history of more than a hundred years. Since cuicui is thirteen, she is almost ready for marriage and draws the attention of two sons of a wealthy merchant. Congwen shen first published in 1934, border town brings to life the story of cuicui, a young country girl coming of age during a time of national turmoil. Sep 01, 2009 shen congwen 19021988 is one of the most influential writers in chinas modern history. Former residence of shen congwen travel guidebook must visit. Shes spellbound by the local custom of nighttime serenades, and she is deftly pursued by two eligible brothers. Sep 04, 2009 september 26 through october 3 this year is banned books week.