Autumn in the Old Capital

Name: Autumn in the Old Capital
ISBN: 9787807627883

Yu DafuApr 2017

4.5

Word count: 240K words
Chapters: 18
ISBN: 9787807627883

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Summary

In the early 1930s, a selection by the American Mildred Publishing House named the five most renowned writers in China's literary world at the time, and Yu Dafu was among them. He was an outstanding writer and an excellent publisher, and together with Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and Mao Dun, he played an active role in the May Fourth New Literature Movement, making great contributions to the development of modern Chinese literature and publishing.

Editor's review

Autumn in the Old Capital is a representative anthology of Yu Dafu's essays and short fiction, focusing on the lyrical talent of this stalwart of May Fourth New Literature. Yu Dafu's writing bears a distinct autobiographical tint; his emotions are sincere with a touch of melancholy, his scenic writing is delicate, and he excels at entrusting deep feelings for country and self in ordinary daily life and natural scenery. His essays are lucid and evocative, while his fiction is candid and honest, daring to lay bare the inner self, standing uniquely in the history of twentieth-century modern Chinese literature. This book is suited to slow reading in a quiet setting, especially on an autumn afternoon or a solitary evening, when the emotional layers and rhythm of the prose can be felt more fully. Readers may treat it as a supplement to the modern literary canon, or learn from Yu Dafu's scenic and lyrical technique how to transform personal feeling into literary expression. For those who wish to understand the spiritual character of the May Fourth generation of intellectuals, this book offers a vivid and tangible window.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who love modern Chinese essays and wish to savor the beauty of lyrical prose
Students seeking to understand the works of representative writers of the May Fourth New Literature Movement
Writing enthusiasts who want to learn how to combine scenic description with lyrical expression
Readers who need slow reading in a quiet atmosphere and seek emotional resonance

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer tightly plotted genre fiction with strong storytelling
Readers sensitive to a melancholy and sentimental tone and easily affected emotionally
Beginners hoping to gain a systematic understanding of modern literary history from this book

Reading tips

Read the famous essays first, then move on to the fiction, to appreciate the different uses of the author's lyrical technique.
Keep a pen handy to mark scenic sentences that move you, and imitate one or two passages after reading.
Read with the basic background of the May Fourth New Culture Movement in mind to grasp the author's emotional direction.
Read only one or two pieces at a time, leaving time for reflection, to avoid emotional fatigue from reading straight through.

第一章
第二章
第三章
第四章
第五章
第六章
第七章
第八章
第九章
第十章
第十一章
第十二章
第十三章
第十四章
第十五章
第十六章
第十七章
第十八章

FAQ

Is this book suitable for middle school students' extracurricular reading?

It is relatively suitable for senior high school students and above who are interested in modern literature. Yu Dafu's writing is emotionally intense and candid; some works carry a sentimental tone, and younger readers may need adult guidance to understand the historical background in order to better grasp the value of the works.

How should Yu Dafu's place in modern literary history be understood?

According to the material, in the early 1930s a selection by the American Mildred Publishing House listed Yu Dafu as one of the five most renowned writers in China's literary world at the time. He, together with Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, and Mao Dun, played an active role in the May Fourth New Literature Movement, and as a publisher contributed to modern Chinese literature and publishing.

What background knowledge is needed before reading this book?

It is advisable to first gain a general understanding of the May Fourth New Culture Movement and the social atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, which makes it easier to understand the emotions and marks of the era in the author's writing. The text itself is not difficult, and ordinary readers can go straight into reading.

How do Yu Dafu's essays and fiction differ in style?

His essays emphasize scenic description and lyricism, with lucid and delicate prose that often draws personal feeling from natural scenery; his fiction more directly lays bare the inner self, with an autobiographical tint and candid emotional expression. Both are imbued with sincere self-writing and can be read side by side to appreciate his creative characteristics.

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About the author

Yu Dafu Author · Chinese · 1896–1945

Yu Dafu (1896–1945), originally named Yu Wen and styled Dafu, was a native of Fuyang, Zhejiang, and a prominent modern Chinese writer as well as one of the founders of the Creation Society. He wrote mainly fiction and prose. His early novella Sinking shocked the literary world with its bold self-exposure and melancholy tone, while short stories such as Springtime in a Drunken Night and Late Osmanthus depict intellectuals' anguish and drifting through lyrical atmosphere. His prose is candid and strongly autobiographical, and he left a mark in biography, social fiction, and miscellaneous essays. The collection includes 130 of his works, among them Reminiscences of Lu Xun, complete prose collections, and selected short stories. During the War of Resistance he went to Singapore to engage in anti-Japanese propaganda, later fled to Sumatra, was secretly killed by Japanese military police in 1945, and was posthumously recognized as a revolutionary martyr in 1952.