Short Paper and Idle Cursive cover

Short Paper and Idle Cursive

Rating 3.7
Word count
206K words
Chapters
70
ISBN
9787521232851

Tags

Summary

Short Paper, Leisure Grass is a collection of essays on prose writing and research by the renowned essayist Wang Bisheng, gathering his reflections and criticism on prose over the years, along with case analyses of individual prose writers and works. The book is divided into three parts: first, the aesthetics of prose, which explores the definition, evolution, current state, and problems of prose, and delves into its purity, truthfulness, and ecological beauty; second, prose works, which not only reviews and summarizes the author's annual prose output but also expresses his thoughts on the present state and direction of prose and his exploration of the laws of prose creation; third, prose criticism, featuring the author's commentary on individual prose writers and works and his sharing of prose writing experience.

Editor's review

Short Paper, Leisure Grass is a collection of essays weighted toward prose theory and criticism, suited to readers willing to read slowly and think alongside the author about "what prose actually is." The book falls into three parts—prose aesthetics, annual creative reviews, and commentary on works—offering both analysis of such propositions as prose's purity, truthfulness, and ecological beauty and case interpretations of specific writers and works, as well as discussion of the laws of prose creation. Its value lies not in offering quick-fix writing methods but in helping readers build a set of coordinates for observing prose: what makes good prose, where prose's boundaries lie, and what problems contemporary prose creation faces. Reading it, one can feel the author's judgment and problem awareness, honed through years immersed in the prose scene. It suits as an "advanced reader" for prose enthusiasts and as auxiliary material for writing and criticism courses. One caveat: the book engages with a great many writers, works, and annual creative phenomena, so readers entirely unfamiliar with the contemporary prose landscape may find it somewhat demanding; it is advisable to take notes while reading and jot down unfamiliar writers before pursuing further reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • General readers who love prose and wish to improve their appreciation and critical ability
  • Chinese literature students or writing-course teachers in need of prose-theory reference
  • Prose writers hoping to understand the laws of creation and aesthetic standards
  • Lovers of literary criticism who enjoy case analysis and close reading of works

Not a good fit for

  • Readers who only want to read prose works and are unwilling to engage with theoretical analysis
  • Those entirely unfamiliar with contemporary prose writers and works who are unwilling to pursue further reading
  • People expecting quick writing tricks or template-style methods

Reading tips

  1. Read Part Three's commentary on works first, then return to Part One's aesthetic theory for a more concrete understanding.
  2. After each commentary, jot down the writers and works mentioned to build your own extended reading list.
  3. Treat Part Two's annual reviews as a map of the prose scene; no need to read word by word—skim and jump to topics of interest.
  4. After finishing, pick a prose piece you know well and try analyzing it using the book's angles of purity and truthfulness.

About the publisher

Writers Publishing House China · Founded in 1953

Writers Publishing House is a Chinese publisher focused mainly on literary publishing. Its output covers classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature and Eastern philosophy, with some extension into popular reading such as social fiction and parenting books. Its catalogue contains more than 900 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber and its edited editions, Shakespeare's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and foreign literary classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and Lost Illusions. In terms of authors, it includes classical writers such as Cao Xueqin and Gao E, foreign masters such as William Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Balzac, and translations by translators such as Zhu Shenghao, Geng Jizhi and Fu Lei. Overall, its publishing profile balances Chinese and foreign literary classics, emphasizes quality translations, and serves both academic and general readers; publicly available information on its specific publishing plans is limited.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 前言: 矮纸闲草说散文
  3. 辑一 综论
  4. 散文与我们
  5. 却顾所来径,苍苍横翠微
  6. 读写他们
  7. 散文中的生态美
  8. 写好你心中的“风景”
  9. 思想让文字更为亮丽
  10. 编书苦乐说散文
  11. 读屏时代的文学何为
  12. 小说家的散文
  13. 守护散文的真实
  14. 散文经典:恒定与流动
  15. 散文的潇洒
  16. 烂漫山花今又是
  17. “奖”的讲评
  18. 辑二 序说
  19. 散文的姿态
  20. 散文好梦
  21. 给散文卸下包袱
  22. 绚烂之后是平淡
  23. 文学何为,散文担当
  24. 散文夜话
  25. 散文的人文坚守
  26. 散文带给我们的
  27. 真情与纯朴的回归
  28. 散文的品位和风骨
  29. 善与美的捕捉
  30. 散文的几个关键词
  31. 有星无星也迷人
  32. “鲁奖”之后说散文
  33. 热闹、沉寂及其他
  34. 怎一个选字了得
  35. 地域视角下的年度散文
  36. 如玉文字 风樯阵马
  37. 《在乎山水间》自序
  38. 序跋三章
  39. 辑三 文谭
  40. 史诗风流读荷马
  41. 精品与美文
  42. 独立天地 情怀高古
  43. 燃烧的生命之花
  44. 笔端深情写田汉
  45. 仁者老田
  46. 诗心与诗德
  47. 走近林清玄
  48. 深挚博雅自风流
  49. 读李存葆的散文
  50. 心灵剖白 灯火万象
  51. 葳蕤的文学之树
  52. 看似寻常最奇崛
  53. 何建明文学的意义
  54. 善对文学 美写情怀
  55. 沉实为文 兀自花开
  56. 乡愁悠悠 此情可待
  57. 《娘》:致敬篇与警示录
  58. 陆春祥其文其人
  59. 闽西有个马卡丹
  60. 锦口绣心意纵横
  61. 清雅有味的《风过留痕》
  62. 茫茫尘嚣寻找精神净土
  63. 思考者的背影
  64. 一只鸟的文学启示
  65. 潜流与新生面
  66. 黄河故道风情画
  67. 修史立德不老情
  68. 诗意人生 晚华秋实
  69. 爱怨忧思故园情
  70. 谢冕的性情散文

FAQ

Is this book a collection of prose works or a theoretical work?
It is primarily a collection of essays on prose creation and research, comprising discussion of prose aesthetics, annual creative reviews, and commentary on writers and works—not a selected collection of Wang Bisheng's own prose. Readers seeking prose works should look for his separate prose collections.
Can I understand it without a foundation in prose theory?
Yes, but patience is required. The book involves many concepts from prose history and criticism, and readers with no foundation at all may find it abstract. It is advisable to start with the commentary on works, then move to the theoretical sections, skipping or marking unfamiliar writers and works for later.
Does the book discuss many writers and works?
Part Three offers case analyses of certain prose writers and works, and Part Two also touches on annual prose creation phenomena. As for which specific writers are involved, it is best to consult the table of contents to confirm, then decide whether to pursue related works.
Does it offer practical help for writing prose?
It helps, but at the level of "understanding." It discusses prose's purity, truthfulness, ecological beauty, and the laws of creation, helping you build judgment criteria rather than offering opening-and-ending templates. It suits reading alongside your own writing, using the book's standards to reflect on your drafts.

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About the author

Wang Bisheng Author · Chinese · 1952

Wang Bisheng was born in 1952 in Jingmen, Hubei. He graduated from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Wuhan University and from the Journalism Department of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He served as deputy director and senior editor of the literary department of People's Daily and is a member of the Chinese Writers Association. His works include A Critical Biography of Deng Tuo, The Muse Complex, and Caring for Mountains and Waters. His essay "The Work Unit" won the Lao She Prose Award, and he has served as a judge for the Lu Xun Literary Prize and the Mao Dun Literature Prize. Long engaged with prose and essay writing, he has participated in editing the Sunbird Literary Annual Selections, which gather the year's best Chinese prose and essays and have exerted a notable influence on contemporary literary anthologies. His writing and editorial work span literary criticism and prose, often touching on writers' inner lives, travels through landscapes, and everyday observation, in a plain and unhurried style that values personal insight and verbal texture.

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