Mountain Rain (Part Two)
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Summary
"Mountain Rain" (Part Two) is a representative novel by Wang Tongzhao. The work was begun in September 1932 and completed in December of the same year. It was published by Shanghai Kaiming Bookstore in September 1933, and was banned by the reactionary Kuomintang government shortly after its release. After negotiations with the bookstore, the final five chapters were deleted before distribution, so it circulated rather narrowly. After the founding of New China, the author revised it, and in 1955 the People's Literature Publishing House reset and republished it. "Mountain Rain" draws directly on the realities of rural life in Shandong around 1930; through the changes in a northern village, Chenjiazhuang, it reflects the bankruptcy of the northern countryside and the awakening of the peasants in the 1920s and 1930s.
Editor's review
The middle volume of "Mountain Rain" is the central portion of Wang Tongzhao's representative novel. Taking up the upper volume's depiction of everyday life in Chenjiazhuang, it further develops the twin narrative threads of rural bankruptcy and peasant awakening. Within the overall structure, this part carries the function of accumulating conflict and turning the characters' fates; readers can clearly see how the pressures of the era seep step by step into the fabric of village life. Wang Tongzhao's method is steady and solid; he does not rely on clever plotting but excels at detail and environmental description, rendering the northern countryside's scenery, human relations, and hardship vividly and palpably. As an important rural-themed novel of the 1930s, its value lies not only in its significance for literary history but also in offering a window onto the transformations of northern rural society. The middle volume suits readers who have finished the upper volume and wish to continue deeper into the characters' circumstances; read on its own, it may require effort to connect character relationships and events, so reading it together with the other volumes is recommended.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who have finished the first volume of Mountain Rain and wish to continue
- Literature enthusiasts interested in 1930s rural-themed novels
- Students and researchers studying Wang Tongzhao's work or modern regional fiction
- Readers who appreciate a steady, realistic style over plot-driven storytelling
Not a good fit for
- Readers who have not read the upper volume and want to start from scratch
- Readers who prefer fast-paced narrative and strong dramatic conflict
- General readers uninterested in the Republican-era rural background
Reading tips
- Review the characters' circumstances and main conflicts at the end of the upper volume before entering the middle volume, to avoid losing the thread.
- Pay attention to detailed descriptions of Chenjiazhuang's changes; note specific manifestations of rural economic decline as you go.
- Reserve judgment until after reading the lower volume, then grasp the direction of the characters' awakening as a whole.
- If reading time is fragmented, proceed chapter by chapter and briefly review events and character relationships at the end of each.
Contents
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
FAQ
Can I read the middle volume without having read the upper volume?
You can, but it is not recommended. The middle volume continues the character relationships and event threads of the upper volume; many conflicts have already been set in motion there, and entering directly from the middle volume can make characters' motives and the causes of village changes feel unclear. If possible, read the upper volume first for smoother understanding.
What role does the middle volume play in the overall structure?
The middle volume stands at the point of accumulating conflict and turning fates; the groundwork of the upper volume is deepened here, the pressures of rural bankruptcy gradually fall upon specific characters, and preparations are made for the awakening and conclusion in the lower volume. It is more like a bridge: read alone, the plot may seem slow; read in sequence, one can appreciate the layered design.
What are the characteristics of this book's writing style?
Wang Tongzhao's narration is steady and realistic, emphasizing environment and detail rather than suspense or clever plot. The northern countryside's scenery, livelihoods, and human affairs are written solidly; reading requires some patience, but precisely for this reason the atmosphere of the era and the texture of rural life feel authentic. It suits slow, careful reading.
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About the author
Wang Tongzhao
Author · Chinese · 1897–1957
Wang Tongzhao (1897–1957), courtesy name Jiansan, was a native of Zhucheng, Shandong, and a modern Chinese writer and poet. One of the founders of the Literary Research Society, he advocated "art for life's sake" and focused his writing on observing social reality and exploring questions of human life. His novel Mountain Rain, set against rural life, portrays ordinary people amid social change in a restrained, grounded style and is his most representative work; A Leaf and the poetry collection Childlike Heart also reflect his sustained attention to life and emotion. His works span social fiction, classic works, classical poetry, and prose miscellanies, with a plain style and thoughtful depth. Wang Tongzhao served as chairman of the Shandong Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles and director of the Department of Chinese at Shandong University, participating in literary organizations alongside his writing and teaching.
