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Summary
Published posthumously, this is a novel of progressive thought. Through the observations of the progressive young man Lin Wensheng in enemy-occupied territory, and through the deeds and figure of Chen Xuanzhi, an ordinary soldier in the Fifth Company of the Thirteenth Battalion of the Nineteenth Army, it celebrates the Nineteenth Route Army's bloody resistance against the Japanese invaders while criticizing the Kuomintang government's policy of insisting on civil war and compromising with foreign powers. As a first-generation woman writer after the May Fourth Movement, Lu Yin's ideas, works, and life pursuits played an enlightening role in awakening the consciousness of modern Chinese women and helped advance the emancipation of modern women.
Editor's review
Flame is Lu Yin's posthumously published final work, its subject turning from the female inner world she had excelled in to the front lines of the War of Resistance. Through the experiences of the progressive youth Lin Wensheng in enemy-occupied territory and the traces of the ordinary soldier Chen Xuanzhi, it writes of the Nineteenth Route Army rising to resist the enemy, and also points directly at the policies of the time that compromised abroad and persisted in civil war. For readers familiar with Lu Yin, the book's value lies in seeing how her brush extends from personal feeling to national peril: the narration still carries her characteristic emotional intensity, but the object of concern has clearly grown larger. It is also a document of its time, recording the stance and indignation of the May Fourth generation of intellectuals at a moment of national crisis, and one can feel the urgency behind the writing. When reading, it is advisable first to understand the basic background of the Nineteenth Route Army's resistance, then follow the two threads of Lin Wensheng and Chen Xuanzhi to see where the author's praise and blame lie; the book's sharp political criticism may be understood in its contemporary context, while noting the tension between literary expression and propagandistic intent.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who want to understand Lu Yin's turn in creation and the character of her final work
- Readers interested in modern Chinese literature on the War of Resistance
- Teachers and students studying how the May Fourth generation of intellectuals expressed their stance
- Adult readers who can accept narrative with a pronounced political bent
Not a good fit for
- Readers who only want Lu Yin's works on women's themes
- Readers who prefer neutral, objective narration and dislike tendentious expression
- Readers sensitive to content of war and political criticism
Reading tips
- Before reading, learn the basic facts of the Nineteenth Route Army's resistance to grasp the book's direction of praise and blame.
- Separately trace the two threads of Lin Wensheng and Chen Xuanzhi to see how the author uses characters to carry a stance.
- Read it against Lu Yin's earlier works on women's themes to observe the expansion of her concern.
- Understand the passages of political criticism in the context of the year of writing, without rushing to judge by today's standards.
Contents
- 作者简介
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 十六
FAQ
I haven't read any other works by Lu Yin—can I read Flame directly?
Yes, but it helps to know that she was previously known for women's themes and epistolary and diary fiction. Flame is her posthumously published final work, turning to the War of Resistance in subject matter while still bearing her characteristic emotional intensity. With this background, it is easier to see the book's special place in her creative trajectory.
Does the book's political stance affect the reading?
The work takes an admiring attitude toward the Nineteenth Route Army's resistance and is markedly critical of the policies of the time that persisted in civil war and compromised abroad; its tendency is strong. In reading, one may understand this stance in the context of the year of writing, while noting the relationship between literary expression and political criticism; treating it as a document of its time will be more rewarding than reading it purely as a novel.
Is this book suitable as an introduction to War of Resistance literature?
It is not the most typical choice for beginners, since it carries strong political criticism and is a final work left unfinished. If you have already read some War of Resistance literature and want to understand how a May Fourth-generation woman writer wrote of national crisis, this book offers a unique perspective; if you are just beginning with the subject, start with works whose narrative is more complete.
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About the author
Lu Yin
Author · Chinese · 1898–1934
Lu Yin (1898–1934), originally named Huang Shuyi and also known as Huang Ying, was a native of Minhou, Fujian, and a prominent woman writer of the May Fourth period as well as the first female member of the Literary Research Society. Known for her fiction and essays, she authored such representative works as "Old Friends by the Seaside," "The Sorrow of Someone," "To an Old Friend in Yanbei," "A Thread of Sorrow Sent to the Wild Geese," and "Starry Night," along with The Complete Works of Lu Yin. Her writings often portray the anguish and aspirations of educated women in a natural, autobiographical style with genuine feeling, making her an important female voice in May Fourth new literature. The collection holds 49 of her works, spanning essays and miscellaneous writings, social fiction, and classic works. She died in Shanghai in 1934 from complications of childbirth at the age of 36.
