Superfluous Words
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Summary
Editor's review
In content, the book is far from a simple revolutionary autobiography or political manifesto. With rare candor, Qu Qiubai dissects the inner conflict and spiritual predicament of his dual identity as a 'man of letters' and a 'political leader.' He calls himself a 'fragile dualistic figure,' torn between the grand narrative of revolution and his personal literary sensibilities. This deep scrutiny of his own soul transcends the political limits of its time and touches on an existential question faced by modern intellectuals generally: how the individual situates himself within the tide of history.
The book's literary value is equally striking. Qu Qiubai's prose is spare, delicate, and full of tension, retaining the flavor of classical essay writing while revealing the depth of modern psychological description. Beneath his calm, restrained prison tone surge complex feelings about life, literature, and revolution, forming a distinctive 'prison letters' style. Writing under such extreme circumstances gives the text a kind of existential weight.
Reading Superfluous Words, we see not only a revolutionary's deathbed monologue but the true echo of a sensitive soul caught in the cracks of history. It reminds us that history is made up of concrete, complex, sometimes deeply contradictory individuals. For today's readers, the book is not only a precious historical document but a mirror reflecting each person's reflections and choices between the times and the self.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in modern Chinese revolutionary history and the spiritual journeys of intellectuals
- Readers who enjoy reflective, intellectually serious essays with introspective depth and literary beauty
- Researchers or enthusiasts seeking to understand the complexity and multidimensionality of historical figures
- Those curious about texts where twentieth-century Chinese literature and politics intertwine
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting standard revolutionary hero narratives or straightforward political propaganda
- Readers looking for light entertainment or plot-driven stories
Reading tips
- It helps to first learn something about Qu Qiubai's life and historical context, which makes many references and moods in the text easier to understand.
- Reading it alongside related accounts or commentary by contemporaries such as Lu Xun and Ding Ling offers a more three-dimensional perspective.
- While reading, try setting aside preconceptions and entering the author's frame of mind at that time and place, to feel the complex emotions and intellectual tension in his words.
About the publisher
China Friendship Publishing Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literary titles, covering classical Chinese literature, foreign literature, folk literature and cultural appreciation. According to the books in the database, its classical list includes celebrated dramas and novels such as The Peony Pavilion, The Romance of the Western Chamber and Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, as well as note-style classics like Hong Mai's Rongzhai Suibi. In foreign literature it offers translations of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Kawabata Yasunari's Snow Country and Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, involving translators such as Zeng Siyi. It also publishes The Complete Literary Works of Lu Xun and titles associated with the "Xue'er Shuguan" editorial group, balancing the collation and popularization of classic texts. Public information on its publishing features and plans is limited; the above is summarized only from the books in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 出版说明
- 多余的话
- 何必说？（代序）
- “历史的误会”
- 脆弱的二元人物
- 我和马克思主义
- 盲动主义和立三路线
- “文人”
- 告别
- 记忆中的日期——附录
- 乱 弹
- 乱弹（代序）
- 世纪末的悲哀
- 画狗罢
- 哑巴文学
- 一种云
- 非洲鬼话
- 狗样的英雄
- 猫样的诗人
- 吉诃德的时代
- 苦力的翻译
- 水陆道场
- 财神还是反财神？
- 《铁流》在巴黎
- 谈谈《三人行》
- 散 论
- 房龙的“地理”和自己
- 《鲁迅杂感选集》序言
- 猪八戒
- 美国的真正悲剧
- 萧伯纳并非西洋唐伯虎
- 慈善家的妈妈
- 鬼脸的辩护
- 王道诗话
- 关于女人
- 真假堂吉诃德
- 透底
- 中国文与中国人
- 关于高尔基的书
- “非政治化的”高尔基——读《革命文豪高尔基》二
- “美”
- 出卖灵魂的秘诀
- 最艺术的国家
- 人才易得
- 择吉
- 《子夜》和国货年
- “打倒帝国主义”的古典
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About the author
Qu Qiubai (1899–1935) was a native of Changzhou, Jiangsu, and one of the early principal leaders of the Communist Party of China. He was a Marxist theorist, propagandist, and man of letters. He joined the Party in 1922, presided over the August 7th Conference in 1927, and for a time led the Central Committee. Later he joined Lu Xun in leading the left-wing cultural movement. He was the first to translate and set the full Chinese text of The Internationale. He was executed in Changting, Fujian, in 1935 at the age of 36. His writing consists mainly of essays and miscellaneous prose, along with poetry. Representative works include Superfluous Words, A History of the Heart of the Red Capital, and Journey to the Land of Hunger. These works record his profound reflections on the revolutionary course and his personal fate. Sincere in style, they possess both literary value and historical significance, occupying a distinctive place in modern Chinese prose and revolutionary literature.
