The Two Mas

Lao SheHunan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaFeb 2017

4.2

Word count: 143K words
Chapters: 52

Summary

Mr Ma and Son is the last novel Lao She wrote while living in Britain. It tells the story of the Ma father and son's life and love affairs in England. Through it the author condemns the national and cultural prejudices of British society, while also expressing indignation at his fellow Chinese for their laziness, apathy, and lack of ambition, conveying the young Lao She's strong patriotism.

Editor's review

Ma and Son is an early novel by Lao She and the only one he set in London. Through the lives of Ma Zeren and his son Ma Wei, who run a curio shop in London, the novel vividly depicts the embarrassments and misunderstandings that arise from the clash of Chinese and Western cultures. With his characteristic humor and keen observation, Lao She captures the complex mentality of Chinese people confronting the Western world—feelings of inferiority and fear, yet also self-respect and perseverance. The 'two Mas' are not merely two characters but symbolize the conflict and blending of two cultural outlooks. Lao She was living in England when he wrote the book, and his firsthand experience provided rich material, enabling the work to achieve a high level of cultural critique and vivid realism. For today's readers, Ma and Son is not only a literary classic but a mirror that prompts us to consider how, in a globalized world, to maintain cultural confidence while engaging in equal and rational dialogue among civilizations. Its language is steeped in Beijing flavor yet tinged with an English atmosphere, making for a delightful and thought-provoking read.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the differences and clashes between Chinese and Western cultures
Literature lovers who enjoy Lao She's works and want to understand his early style
Readers who wish to observe the lives of overseas Chinese during the Republican era through fiction
Readers who appreciate humorous satire and enjoy pondering social issues through laughter

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plot and fast-paced narrative
Readers with no interest in cultural discussions set against a specific historical background

Reading tips

Read alongside Lao She's contemporaneous or slightly later works such as The Philosophy of Lao Zhang and Zhao Ziyue to trace his early creative development.
Pay attention to Lao She's depiction of characters' psychology, especially the subtle shifts in their sense of 'face' and national self-respect.
The humor in the novel is often bittersweet; while smiling, consider the cultural critique behind it.

About the publisher

Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1985

Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House is a publisher known for its literary titles, with a catalogue spanning foreign literature, world classics, classical Chinese literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and mystery and detective fiction. Judging from the more than 1,100 books in the database, the press publishes foreign classics such as Crime and Punishment, Snow Country, The Complete Sherlock Holmes and Letter from an Unknown Woman, as well as Chinese classical and modern literary works including Lu Xun's Wandering and A Madman's Diary and Wu Jingzi's The Scholars. In terms of translators and authors, translations by Cao Guowei and Tan Jinghua appear in its foreign literature titles, and the authors involved include Dostoevsky, Kawabata Yasunari, Conan Doyle and Zweig. Its publishing character lies in introducing Chinese and foreign literary classics side by side, balancing popular and serious works and attending to both readability and literary value. Public information is limited; the above is a brief overview based solely on the books in the database.

版权信息
第一段
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第二段
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第三段
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第四段
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第五段
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FAQ

What is the main plot of Ma and Son?

The novel mainly recounts the experiences of old Ma (Ma Zeren) and young Ma (Ma Wei), a father and son who run a curio shop in London. Around their business, their emotional lives, and their interactions with their English landlady Mrs. Wedderburn and her daughter, a series of tragicomic events unfold, driven by cultural differences.

What was the background of Lao She's writing Ma and Son?

From 1924 to 1929, Lao She taught in England at the invitation of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London. Ma and Son was written during this period in England (1929) and incorporates the author's observations of British society and his deep reflections on the differences in national character between China and the West.

What are the main aspects of the book's literary value?

Its value lies mainly in: first, the pioneering nature of its early cross-cultural writing, which profoundly reveals the complexity of cultural conflict and fusion; second, its continuation and development of Lao She's unique humorous and satirical style; and third, its highly successful portrayal of characters, especially the spiritual state of 'old-fashioned Chinese' under the impact of a new era.

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About the author

Lao She Author · China · 1899–1966

Lao She, born Shu Qingchun with the courtesy name Sheyu, lived from 1899 to 1966. A Manchu from Beijing, he is a major modern Chinese writer. His writing long centered on urban life in Beijing and on ordinary people at the lower levels of society. His works are mostly social novels and folk literature, and he also wrote essays and miscellaneous prose. His style is plain yet marked by irony and compassion, and he was skilled at using colloquial Beijing-flavored language to portray characters and their fates. His representative works include Camel Xiangzi, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, which have had wide influence. In 1951 he received the title "People's Artist." The library holds 488 of his works, commonly classified under social fiction, classics, folk literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and exam books, showing that his writing continues to circulate among readers and in teaching.