The Tree of Man
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Deep readers with a strong interest in serious literature of Nobel Prize caliber
- Readers who enjoy family sagas and themes of historical change and can savor a slow narrative pace
- Literature lovers eager to explore the roots of Australian literature and culture
- Readers who appreciate complex psychological portraiture and rich natural imagery
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced, plot-driven, light entertainment
- Readers impatient with extensive environmental description and inner monologue
Reading tips
- Set aside uninterrupted reading time to accommodate its dense, weighty style
- Pay attention to the recurring variations of the central image of the "tree" and savor its symbolic meaning
- After reading, consider the context of Australian colonial history and reflect on White's complex construction of the idea of "home"
About the publisher
Founded in 1987, Qingdao Publishing House has long focused on education, science and technology, children's books, and lifestyle titles, while steadily publishing classical and foreign literature. Its 827 titles in the catalog reflect a balance between making classics widely accessible and serving young readers. They include the four great classics of Chinese literature—Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Journey to the West—as well as foreign literary translations such as Sei Shōnagon's The Pillow Book, works associated with Zhou Zuoren, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. The press also offers a color-illustrated series of recommended classics for primary and secondary school Chinese curriculum reading, using pictures and text to support student readers. Its common categories cover classical literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, folk literature, and foreign literature, with authors including Luo Guanzhong, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Gao E, Wu Cheng'en, Sei Shōnagon, Zhou Zuoren, and Victor Hugo. Public information is limited, so this profile emphasizes the publishing directions shown by the catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 编委会
- 鸣 谢
- 总序①
- 总序②
- 总序③
- 第一部
- 第一章
- 第二章
- 第三章
- 第四章
- 第五章
- 第六章
- 第七章
- 第二部
- 第八章
- 第九章
- 第十章
- 第十一章
- 第十二章
- 第十三章
- 第三部
- 第十四章
- 第十五章
- 第十六章
- 第十七章
- 第十八章
- 第十九章
- 第四部
- 第二十章
- 第二十一章
- 第二十二章
- 第二十三章
- 第二十四章
- 第二十五章
- 第二十六章
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About the author
Patrick White is a foreign-literature author included in this catalogue, with two works currently listed: The Tree of Man and Flaws in the Glass. Because public information is limited, his nationality, dates of birth and death, and full biography cannot be confirmed here; this note can only sketch the general character of his work. Judging by subject matter and classification, his writing spans both fiction and biography: The Tree of Man is generally regarded as a broad, expansive narrative concerned with the relationship between people and the land, family and time, written in a steady tone with clear symbolic resonance; Flaws in the Glass leans toward autobiographical writing, centering on personal memory and self-scrutiny in restrained, introspective language. Placed together, the two works show that he is adept at sustaining long-form narrative while also valuing honest self-examination through individual experience. For Chinese readers, White's value lies in the weight he gives to ordinary lives through solid storytelling; his works reward close reading and deserve continued discussion within the field of foreign literature.
Li Yao is an author about whom limited public information is available; neither nationality, dates of birth and death, nor an English name has been clearly recorded. The library holds twenty of the author's works, spanning foreign literature, biography, social novels, essays and miscellaneous writings, as well as examination-related books, indicating that the writing and editorial work is not confined to a single field. Representative works include The True History of the Kelly Gang, Carpentaria, The Tree of Man, The Swan Book, The Rachel Papers, A Mirror Flaw, The Call and The Prodigal Son. Judging from the titles and categories, some works show a strong narrative quality and social concern, while others tend toward essays or the arrangement of historical materials. Because verifiable biographical information is insufficient, specific experiences and creative background cannot yet be described in detail; readers may turn to the works above to understand the author's textual style and areas of interest.
