Before the Beginning of Spring
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who admire Zhou Zuoren's prose and want a systematic sense of his later style
- Researchers interested in the history of modern Chinese prose and the literary condition of writers in the final years of the War of Resistance
- General literary readers who prefer familiar essays and slow, attentive reading
- Readers who want to experience the union of intellect and delight through short pieces
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer tightly plotted, strongly narrative works
- Those with little interest in the context of Republican-era literati who want only light, entertaining reading
- Readers expecting a systematic biography or a full collation of historical sources
Reading tips
- Read by category: begin with the leisurely essays on things, then the serious essays and the memorial pieces.
- Pause after each piece and note one or two sentences that struck you most, building a feel for Zhou's style.
- Read the memorial pieces against the background of 1944–1945 to sense the complex mood behind their equanimity toward life and death.
- Don't read it all at once; take one or two pieces a day and keep a steady pace, so the plain style does not grow tedious.
About the publisher
Xianzhi Xianxing is a book imprint used by Beijing Mingtianyuanhang Cultural Transmission Co., Ltd. (Beijing Mingtian Culture) rather than an independently established publishing house. Under the name "Beijing Mingtian Culture (Xianzhi Xianxing)" it publishes general-interest titles, with an emphasis on psychology and self-help, social-science general knowledge, and traditional culture. Public information is limited; the titles in our catalogue point mainly to essays and miscellaneous writings, Eastern philosophy, folk literature, and classic works. Representative books include Zhou Zuoren's Lu Xun's Old Home, Bitter Tea Essays, Bitter Bamboo Miscellany, Wind and Rain Talks, and Talks by Candlelight, Sun Yirang's Mozi Jiangu, and Gan Bao's Sou Shen Ji. Its authors are chiefly modern scholars such as Zhou Zuoren and Sun Yirang and collators of classical texts such as Gan Bao, reflecting a sustained interest in traditional classics and essay collections. E-books are the main form of distribution.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 关于教子法
- 关于宽容
- 关于测字
- 关于送灶
- 雨的感想
- 医师礼赞
- 男人与女人
- 女人的文章
- 女人的禁忌
- 蚯蚓
- 萤火
- 记杜逢辰君的事
- 明治文学之追忆
- 广阳杂记
- 杨大瓢日记
- 寄龛四志
- 笑赞
- 大乘的启蒙书
- 杂文的路
- 国语文的三类
- 文学史的教训
- 十堂笔谈
- 苦茶庵打油诗
- 文坛之外
- 立春以前
- 几篇题跋
- 后记
FAQ
Roughly when were the essays in this book written?
I haven't read any other works by Zhou Zuoren. Can I start with this book?
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About the author
Zhou Zuoren (1885–1967) was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and the younger brother of Lu Xun. A modern Chinese essayist, literary theorist and translator, he was a representative figure of the New Culture Movement. He taught at Peking University and took part in editing New Youth and Yusi. His essay collections include My Own Garden, Writings on a Rainy Day and Recollections of Zhitang, written in a plain, calm style that finds interest and insight in everyday matters. He long translated Japanese and Greek literature, notably The Pillow Book, the tragedies of Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. His essays, folk-literature studies and translations have had a lasting influence on modern Chinese writing and the reception of foreign literature.
