Cao Yu

Cao Yu is a playwright of major importance in the history of modern Chinese drama, and his representative work Thunderstorm is a classic of the Chinese spoken drama. Besides Thunderstorm, the library holds two other works by him, both falling under the categories of literature and dramatic literature. Because public information is limited, details of his life such as his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and educational background cannot be confirmed at present. His surviving works nevertheless show that Cao Yu excels at unfolding intense conflicts among characters within enclosed domestic and social settings, using concise dialogue and tense dramatic rhythm to reveal the tragic nature of his characters' fates; his works combine literary quality with stageworthiness. His plays have long been regarded as important reading in modern Chinese dramatic literature and have had a lasting and wide-ranging influence on later playwriting and performance, remaining indispensable to the study of modern Chinese drama.