Divorce

Lao SheHuashan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaFeb 2017

4.1

Word count: 16K words
Chapters: 19

Summary

Divorce is a story about ordinary city folk. Its protagonists are a group of clerks in the Nationalist government, and the troubles of these small people are nothing more than wives, children, office work, promotion, extramarital affairs, and so on. "Troubles" are not as bad as "suffering": romance—not enough to kill anyone; yet "troubles" cling to one like a shadow, impossible to shake off, and are harder to escape than "suffering." They do not abruptly destroy the body, but they erode the soul bit by bit.

Editor's review

Divorce is a novel written by Mr. Lao She in 1933 and an important work from his mature period. Taking the family lives of several clerks at the Beiping Finance Bureau as its entry point, the novel, through the struggles and compromises of characters such as Elder Brother Zhang and Old Li within the besieged city of marriage, profoundly reveals the spiritual predicament and living conditions of China's urban petty-bourgeoisie in the 1930s. With his distinctive humor and satire, Lao She depicts the absurdity and desolation within everyday trivialities with penetrating insight, enabling the work to transcend the simple category of family ethics and become a masterpiece exploring human nature, society, and culture. The book's critique of the philosophy of "perfunctory compromise" and its longing for and disillusionment with a "poetic" life still resonate strongly with modern readers today. Compared with the intense tragedy of Camel Xiangzi or the grand narrative of Four Generations Under One Roof, Divorce is more concise and restrained, accumulating tremendous emotional tension within a plain narrative and demonstrating Lao She's extraordinary skill as a master of language and an observer of human nature.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Lao She's literary world who wish to understand his representative works beyond Camel Xiangzi
Lovers of fiction who enjoy discerning society and human nature through depictions of everyday urban life
Readers curious about the daily life and cultural mentality of Beiping citizens during the Republican era
Modern readers perplexed by the tensions among marriage, career, and personal ideals who seek reference and consolation in literature

Not a good fit for

Entertainment-oriented readers seeking strong plot, fast pacing, and dramatic conflict
Pragmatists hoping to find concrete solutions to marital problems or an emotional guide

Reading tips

Read alongside Lao She's contemporary essays and other novels (such as This Life of Mine) to gain a fuller grasp of his creative mindset and artistic style in the 1930s
Pay attention to the many exquisite metaphors and the humorous, satirical language with a Beijing flavor—the key to appreciating Lao She's literary charm
Consider comparing the predicaments of the characters with the existential condition of contemporary urban dwellers; you may make discoveries that transcend the era

About the publisher

Huashan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1982

Huashan Literature and Art Publishing House is a local literature and art publisher whose main publishing focus is literary and artistic works, covering categories such as classic works, philosophical readings, social sciences, foreign literature, Eastern philosophy, and applied psychology. Judging from the books in the database, the house publishes modern literary classics such as Xiao Hong's The Story of Hulan River, as well as Aisin Gioro Yu Yun's "Yu Laoshi Speaks" series and titles from the "People and Classics" series, including The Great Learning and The Commentary on the Xici of the I Ching, with an emphasis on interpreting traditional classics. In foreign literature, it offers Michael Cunningham's The Hours, Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and Dave Pilkey's Dog Man series. Its authors include Xiao Hong, Aisin Gioro Yu Yun, Chen Jiong, Dave Pilkey, Michael Cunningham, and Wang Jiaxiang. Its publishing character lies in balancing literary classics, interpretations of traditional culture, and translations of foreign literature, forming a diverse reading structure for general readers. Public information is limited, and the above focuses on the publishing directions reflected by the books in the database.

版权信息
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FAQ

What is Divorce mainly about?

The novel's core is not simply the telling of a divorce event. Rather, using the families of several clerks at the finance bureau as samples, it depicts their entire process of struggle—between ideals and reality, individuality and compromise—in mediocre and trivial married and workplace life, ending in perfunctory compromise and ultimately numbness, profoundly revealing the spiritual crisis of petty intellectuals in a particular era.

What is Lao She's writing style in this novel?

It continues Lao She's customary humor and satire, but is more restrained and profound. The language is concise and vivid, full of authentic Beijing flavor, and within the plain everyday narrative permeates deep compassion for the characters' fates and cold, clear-eyed criticism of social customs.

What is the literary value and status of this book?

It is widely regarded as one of Lao She's finest works and represents the mature peak of his realist creation. In the history of modern Chinese literature, it is celebrated for its deep portrayal of the psychology of the urban petty bourgeoisie and its precise depiction of "gray existence," and it possesses high value for literary study and enduring reading appeal.

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About the author

Lao She Author · China · 1899–1966

Lao She, born Shu Qingchun with the courtesy name Sheyu, lived from 1899 to 1966. A Manchu from Beijing, he is a major modern Chinese writer. His writing long centered on urban life in Beijing and on ordinary people at the lower levels of society. His works are mostly social novels and folk literature, and he also wrote essays and miscellaneous prose. His style is plain yet marked by irony and compassion, and he was skilled at using colloquial Beijing-flavored language to portray characters and their fates. His representative works include Camel Xiangzi, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, which have had wide influence. In 1951 he received the title "People's Artist." The library holds 488 of his works, commonly classified under social fiction, classics, folk literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and exam books, showing that his writing continues to circulate among readers and in teaching.