钟连城

Zhong Liancheng is a Chinese author about whom limited public information is available, but the eleven works in the collection offer a rough picture of his writing. His fiction falls mainly into two categories, social novels and war and military stories, drawing on Republican-era Jianghu life, local banditry and the hidden currents of power. Books such as The King of Assassins: The Last Jianghu Hero of the Republic, Shanghai Secrets: Du Yuesheng and the Women Behind Him and The Black Hound: Chiang Kai-shek and His "Xikou Gang" are set against real historical figures or the old Shanghai underworld, dealing with vendettas and political intrigue. The Bandit King: Three Great Bandits of Western Hunan, The Bandit King 2: Suppressing Bandits in Xuefeng Mountain and Lifting the Shroud: The Lonely Executioner turn to bandit suppression in western Hunan and lowly trades, marked by strong regional colour and a legendary style, while The Inside Man and Village Secrets: Temptation touch on espionage and rural life. Overall he favours popular storytelling that unfolds history and folk secrets, with strong plots and morally grey characters, aimed at general readers.