Dream Return
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Summary
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the book's unique value lies in its "dual narrative." On one hand, it is a literary reconstruction of personal memory, with plain and restrained prose and sincere but not sentimental emotion, displaying the literary cultivation and aesthetic taste of the older generation of intellectuals. On the other hand, the people and events described in the book—such as interactions with masters including Ji Xianlin and Qi Gong, and experiences participating in major publishing projects such as Wenshi Zhishi and the Greater China Library—reflect from one side certain threads and lights of the development of contemporary Chinese cultural publishing, and have precious historical value.
Reading this book is like listening to a wise elder chat under a lamp. It offers no breathtaking stories and builds no grand theoretical system; its charm lies in the texture of detail and the depth of thought. In looking back, the author always maintains a clear, slightly detached scrutiny, elevating personal experience into a shareable life experience and testimony of the times. For readers, this is not only a journey of nostalgia but also an intellectual inspiration on how to place memory and how to view history.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the spiritual journey and social changes of Chinese intellectuals in the mid-to-late twentieth century
- Literature lovers who enjoy prose with a steady style, restrained emotion, and historical texture
- Professionals or students engaged in publishing, culture, and history-related work
- Readers who hope to settle their minds and gain a tranquil reading experience through reading amid a fast-paced life
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking strong plot, fast pace, and online-literature-style reading experience
- Readers completely uninterested in memoirs and essays as genres
Reading tips
- It is recommended to read calmly in a relatively quiet environment and savor the atmosphere of the times and the flavor of life behind the words
- You may combine the historical figures or events mentioned in the book with extended reading to deepen understanding
- There is no need to follow the table of contents in order; browse chapters of interest at will and treat the book as a 'museum of memory' you can enter at any time
About the publisher
Jiangsu People's Publishing House is known for works in history, literature and the social sciences. Judging from its catalog, it focuses on modern Chinese history, classical literary appreciation and scholarly research. Representative titles include historical works such as Kuomintang-Communist Cooperation and the National Revolution, 1924–1927 and A Record of Combat on the Front Lines of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, literary and visual documents such as Sun Wen's Illustrated Complete Dream of the Red Chamber, and scholarly collections such as Chen Yinke's Collected Works of Hanliu Hall. Translations such as The Dust Bowl and Anti-Intellectualism in American Life reflect an interest in overseas social and cultural studies. Its authors include historians Wang Qisheng, Huang Yuzhang and Guo Rugui, as well as figures associated with classical literature such as Cao Xueqin and Sun Wen. Common categories include history, literary appreciation, essays and miscellaneous writings, and social-science and cultural titles, showing a balance between historical scholarship and literature and between academic and popular publishing. Because public information is limited, this overview is based only on the books in the catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 写在前面的话
- 小学的回忆——怀念母亲
- 火车带来的乡愁
- 父亲墓前的追思
- 南牌坊18号，永远珍藏在我心中
- 我的黑猫和白猫
- 喝茶的怀想
- 我的养花观
- 遥远的北大
- 怀念我的老师阴法鲁先生
- 上善若水——纪念中华书局总经理王春
- 编辑部里的年轻人
- 怀念朱彬
- 我敬佩的褚斌杰先生
- 门前一树马缨花——怀念季羡林先生
- 不忧，不惑，不惧——怀念周振甫先生
- 我心中的郭沫若先生——记与郭老的几次通信交往
- 往事依依——记我在总署时的领导
- 关于骑自行车的思考
- 香格里拉的追寻
- 巴黎之夜的遐想
- 梵高与蒙马特高地
- 牛津的魅力
- 托尔斯泰的追求
- 撒哈拉印象
- 在金字塔下
- 白求恩，一个多么熟悉的名字
- 啊，耶路撒冷
- 忧郁的探戈
- 傍在蔚蓝的大海边——南非记行
- 在美国越战纪念碑前
- 在那恒河的原野
- 佛罗伦萨在哪里
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About the author
Yang Muzhi—publicly available information about this author is limited. What can be confirmed within our records is that two works are held under this name: Busy with Books All My Life and Dreaming Back. Judging from these works and their categories, Yang Muzhi's writing touches on two directions, language and philology on the one hand and prose and miscellaneous writings on the other, with an interest in book culture, language, and personal recollection. The title Busy with Books All My Life carries a strong autobiographical flavor, suggesting the author's closeness to a life of reading, editing, and writing, in a plain and sincere register; Dreaming Back shows a more essayistic touch, suited to memory and reflection. On the whole, Yang Muzhi does not aim at grand systems but dwells on everyday writing and the world of books and book people, in a warm, natural style that will appeal to readers who enjoy literati essays and language sketches. Because biographical background remains unavailable, this sketch rests only on the held works and categories, without speculation, pending more reliable sources.
