Rou Shi

Rou Shi (1902–1931), originally named Zhao Pingfu, was a native of Ninghai, Zhejiang, and a modern Chinese left-wing writer. In 1928 he went to Shanghai to engage in literary activities, became closely associated with Lu Xun, co-founded the Chaohua Society, and served as an editor of Yusi. In 1930 he joined the League of Left-Wing Writers and served on its executive committee, and in the same year he joined the Communist Party of China. His writing is known for social fiction, with a solid, grounded touch, focusing on the fate of ordinary people and educated youth. His representative works include the novella February and the short story A Slave Mother. In 1931 Rou Shi was secretly killed by the Kuomintang and is one of the Five Martyrs of the Left League. The collection contains 21 of his works, including collections of novellas and short stories as well as prose and miscellaneous writings, reflecting his deep concern for social reality and his plain yet powerful narrative style.