Outside the Collections

Lao SheApr 2022

4.0

Word count: 65K words
Chapters: 17

Summary

Lao She is a well-known modern Chinese writer and a leading figure of the Beijing school of literature, celebrated for his novels, plays, and essays. His works, marked by a distinctive humor and rich everyday flavor, are widely loved by readers. Lao She represents the literary height of an era and is known as a "People's Artist."

Editor's review

Ji Wai collects works by Lao She that fall outside his main anthologies. The value of such texts lies in presenting a more scattered and more authentic side of a writer: the genres may be more varied, the subjects more casual, and the occasions of writing often tied to specific circumstances. For readers already familiar with Lao She's representative works, these uncollected pieces fill in what formal selections struggle to cover, helping to illuminate the sources of his linguistic wit and the state of his everyday writing. There is no need to expect every piece to be excellent; it is better to proceed by browsing combined with close reading, stopping to read slowly when a piece matches your interests. Its significance lies not in offering another classic but in letting readers see a classic writer's brushwork and concerns beyond his formal works, making it suitable as material for extended and comparative reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who have read Lao She's representative works and wish to expand their reading
Literary researchers interested in uncollected and lost writings of modern writers
Readers who enjoy essays and informal pieces and prefer browsing at leisure
Enthusiasts who wish to understand a writer's everyday writing state through marginal materials

Not a good fit for

Readers new to Lao She who wish to start with his representative works
Readers seeking a book with a unified theme and complete structure
Readers who prefer carefully edited selections and do not wish to choose pieces themselves

Reading tips

Begin by browsing the table of contents and piece titles, choosing according to interest; there is no need to read straight through from beginning to end.
Read alongside Lao She's representative works, noting consistencies and differences in tone and subject between the uncollected writings and the formal works.
Keep a pen or sticky notes handy to mark memorable sentences and background worth further checking, then review and organize them after finishing.

版权信息
不说谎的人
创造病
敌与友
电话
丁
番表——在火车上
狗之晨
记懒人
民主世界
牛老爷的痰盂
沈二哥加了薪水
生灭
小铃儿
新爱弥耳
裕兴池里
抓药

FAQ

What is the difference between Ji Wai and Lao She's formal anthologies?

Ji Wai collects works not included in the main anthologies; the genres and subjects are relatively scattered, and the occasions of writing are closer to specific circumstances. It does not aim for a systematic presentation and is better suited as extended and supplementary reading, used to observe the writer's brushwork and concerns outside formal selections.

Is this a suitable choice for a first encounter with Lao She?

It is not particularly recommended as a first choice. Uncollected works vary in format, quality, and interest, and lack the concentrated reading guidance of representative works. It is advisable to first read Lao She's acknowledged representative novels or plays to establish a basic impression of the author's style, then read Ji Wai for comparison and supplementation.

In what order should one read this collection?

Do not be bound by order. You may first look at the table of contents and choose by genre or title interest; you may also start with shorter, lighter pieces to warm up before moving on to longer texts. For research reading, grouping by writing time or genre can make changes easier to observe.

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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.