Last Night
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Summary
These ten deeply affecting stories depict the most intimate relations between men and women, and the moments when those relations change: a poetry lover is asked by his wife to give up the relationship he treasures most; a bookseller is forced to face the truth of his own life; a husband long since unfaithful helps his wife kill herself, but failure is far more than a single injection...
A sure style and sensual insight make Salter one of the most important writers of our time.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy short stories and want to study narrative omission and language control
- Adult readers interested in themes of intimacy, desire, and betrayal
- Literary readers who prefer psychological realism and can accept open endings
- Writing enthusiasts who want to learn how to create tension with restrained prose
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment and avoiding the darker sides of emotion
- Readers who need clear moral judgments or happy endings
- Readers sensitive to themes of eroticism and betrayal
Reading tips
- Read only one or two stories at a time, leaving intervals between them so the aftertaste can settle before moving on.
- Pay attention to the moments when relationships turn; take brief notes and look back at how Sault omits key information.
- After finishing a story, reread the opening paragraphs to appreciate the effects of opening-closing echoes and shifts in tone.
- If reading a Chinese translation, focus on the sense of proportion in dialogue and narration rather than pursuing plot momentum.
About the publisher
Hainan Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for literary and intellectual works, covering foreign literature, philosophy, classics, world-famous works, classical poetry and prose miscellanies. Its catalog includes foreign literary classics such as Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and Romain Rolland's Jean-Christophe, philosophical works such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract: Expert Companion Edition, and Chinese classics and poetic studies such as Lu Xun's essays and prose collections and Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, as well as illustrated popular-science works like Fabre's Insects. The involvement of translators such as Zhong Shufeng, Fu Lei and Chen Xiaoqing reflects the publisher's emphasis on translation quality and expert guidance. Public information is limited, and the above is based mainly on the books in the catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 彗星
- 明星的眼
- 我的主人
- 好玩儿
- 给予
- 铂金
- 棕榈阁
- 曼谷
- 阿灵顿
- 昨夜
FAQ
Are the stories in Last Night suitable for reading in one sitting?
I haven't read other works by Sault. Can I start with this book?
Are there many "erotic" descriptions in this book?
Comments
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About the author
James Salter is a writer of foreign literature known for both novels and short stories. His nationality, dates of birth and death, and other personal background are limited in publicly available sources, and no complete biography is provided in Chinese materials. Four of his works are included in the collection: Last Night, Dusk, Light Years, and All That. These titles suggest that his writing often focuses on everyday life, emotional relationships, and the passage of time, spanning both novels and short story collections and commonly classified under classic works and foreign literature. Because public information is limited, it is difficult to detail his specific experiences and chronology, but the available titles still indicate attention to narrative pacing and inner lives of characters, with restrained and readable prose suited to readers interested in contemporary foreign literature.
Zhang Huiwen: publicly available information about her is currently limited, and no clear record has been found regarding her exact identity, background, nationality, or dates of birth and death. According to existing library records, only one work of hers has been collected, namely Last Night, which is classified under classic works. Because verifiable information is scarce, it remains difficult to fully outline her writing career and personal experience. As her representative work, Last Night is the main basis for understanding Zhang Huiwen's writing. Judging from the classification of the work, her writing may carry a distinct literary quality and lasting value for reading, which is why it has been placed in the category of classic works. As for her writing style, thematic preferences, and literary influence, the available materials are not yet sufficient for a full judgment, and readers may appreciate these through the specific content of Last Night. It is hoped that more materials will emerge in the future to enrich our understanding of this author.
