February

Rou ShiMay 2017

4.3

Word count: 92K words
Chapters: 32

Summary

A poor child lies asleep by the roadside—wretched boy, he is ill! And it is an acute attack of sha, his whole body convulsed: his shoulders jerk left and right, his legs stretch out first one way, then the other. His face is as blue as a roasted eggplant, his lips black, his eyes shut and lifeless. At times he blinks a glance at the crowd gathered around him, as if begging on behalf of a mouth that can no longer speak; but then he knits his brows, cries “Ayo,” and seems to sink back into sleep. Tears cling to his eyelids without falling; two smears of mud cling to his cheeks. He seems about to scratch at them with his hand, but his five fingers are like the claws of a cooked crab, trembling violently.

Editor's review

February is one of Rou Shi’s representative works, and this opening alone shows the precision of his realistic writing and his attention to the suffering of the lower classes. A poor child fallen ill by the roadside—his convulsing body, blue face, mud-stained cheeks—is rendered concretely and with restraint, without excess sentimentality, yet it is hard to look away. Rou Shi excels at using exact detail to present a character’s situation, burying social injustice in plain description and letting readers feel its weight for themselves. This book suits readers interested in the realist tradition in modern Chinese literature, and those who want to understand the social landscape of the 1920s and 1930s. It requires some mental preparation, because the suffering in the text is direct and unadorned—but precisely that directness gives the work lasting power.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in modern Chinese realist literature who want to know Rou Shi’s work
Those interested in the social landscape of China in the 1920s and 1930s
Readers able to bear heavy subject matter and willing to face suffering directly in literature
Chinese majors and researchers of modern literature

Not a good fit for

Readers with low tolerance for difficult material who prefer light, pleasant reading
Those who prefer romance or fantasy and are not interested in realistic narratives of suffering
Younger adolescent readers; some descriptions may be too heavy

Reading tips

Learn a little about the historical background of Rou Shi’s time before entering the text; the characters’ situation will be easier to understand.
Pay attention to the author’s use of plain description and notice how detail conveys emotion in place of commentary.
After finishing, compare it with realist works of the same period to appreciate the restraint and force of Rou Shi’s writing.
It is best not to read it all in one sitting; spacing it out gives the heavy content room to settle.

版权信息
别蕙
还乡记
偷果子的小孩
一群蝌蚪
死所的选择
卖笔的少年
狗的自杀问题
上当
一个白色的梦
六月的赐惠者
一个褴褛的老医仙
个人主义与流氓本相
果筵散后
《旧时代之死》自序
《希望》自序
丰子恺君底飘然的态度
我希望于大众文艺的
对花
无弦的琵琶
秋风从西方来了
战！
夜色
晨光
辽远的心
夜半孤零的心
人间
遐思
晚歌
血在沸
生日
人鬼和他底妻的故事

FAQ

Is February difficult to read?

The language itself is not especially hard; Rou Shi’s vernacular is fairly plain. The difficulty lies mainly in the heaviness of the subject and in understanding the social background. Some basic knowledge of society during the Republican era will make the reading smoother.

Is this book suitable for middle school students?

It depends on the age group. High school students interested in modern literature and able to accept narratives of suffering can read it under a teacher’s guidance. Younger students are advised to wait; the descriptions of illness and poverty are quite direct.

What are the characteristics of Rou Shi’s writing style?

As this passage shows, Rou Shi excels at depicting characters through precise plain detail, letting the scene speak without direct commentary. His language is restrained and concrete, and he is skilled at conveying situation through physical description, with a clear realist tendency.

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About the author

Rou Shi Author · Chinese · 1902–1931

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.