Fog and Stone
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Summary
The novel tells of a place called Shijie in eastern Zhejiang, where the wealthy Lin family and their family friends the Wu family struggle and resist in vain amid turbulent and complex circumstances. It involves gentry, merchants, scholars, commoners, missionaries, officials, bandits, and other classes, and explores why China in the late feudal era, amid bitter internal strife and the grip of conservative thought, missed its chance to join the great tide of the world.
Editor's review
In terms of reading value, the book is more literary than story-driven. It offers no fast-paced plot or strong dramatic conflict but draws readers into a particular atmosphere and mood, into characters' hesitation, persistence, and loss amid the currents of their time. Readers familiar with, or curious about, the regional culture depicted will find deep recognition and remembrance; general readers will find a quiet window onto micro-level change in contemporary Chinese society. Its value lies in the wistful record of vanishing things and the plain reverence for enduring things that permeate every line. It asks for patience and savoring rather than instant reading pleasure.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in local gazetteers and regional cultural change
- Novel lovers who prefer literary, slow-paced narrative focused on atmosphere
- Readers who wish to feel the weight of history intertwined with individual fate
- Those who appreciate spare language, rich imagery, and contemplative literature
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking strong plot, fast pace, and a clear resolution
- Readers wholly unfamiliar with the regional cultural background and unwilling to explore it
Reading tips
- Read in quiet, uninterrupted stretches so as to enter the atmosphere the work creates
- Watch for the recurring and varied images of "mist" and "stone" and consider their symbolic meaning
- After reading, if possible, explore historical or cultural material about the region for a richer experience
About the publisher
Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 上部 石非石
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 十六
- 十七
- 十八
- 十九
- 下部 雾非雾
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 尾声 石街，回来！
- 后记
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About the author
Wang Liyun is an author about whom little public information is currently available; he is known only as the author of the book Wu yu Shi (Fog and Stone). The work is classified as a social novel, suggesting that its writing draws on social reality and presents, in fictional form, the experiences and relationships of characters within real-world circumstances. Because no reliable records have been found concerning the author's nationality, dates of birth and death, professional background, or writing career, it is not yet possible to trace a complete account of his life, nor would it be appropriate to speculate about his education or literary influences. On the basis of the available information, Wang Liyun's name is associated with this single work, and readers wishing to understand his writing must chiefly rely on the novel itself. Social novels generally focus on the tension between individual fate and the social environment; if Wu yu Shi follows this direction, its value lies in using narrative to present the complex texture of real life. It is hoped that more public information will become available in the future so that this author can be introduced more fully.
