Cloud Wanderings

Xu ZhimoMay 2017

Rating 4.1

Word count: 35K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Xu Zhimo was an essayist and a representative poet of the Crescent Moon School, a writer once active and influential in the Chinese literary world. All his life he pursued "love," "freedom," and "beauty," which brought him much creative inspiration and also cost him his life. He died in a plane crash on November 19, 1931. His representative works include "Farewell Again, Cambridge" and "A Night in Florence."

Editor's review

A collection of essays and travel writings by Xu Zhimo. The prose is light and unhurried, the feeling sincere and candid, revealing a side of this Crescent Moon writer beyond poetry. His accounts of journeys, foreign scenery, and inner reflections carry a distinct personal temperament and reflect that generation of intellectuals' longing for beauty and freedom. Its value lies not in systematic knowledge but in the rhythm and flavor of vernacular prose in its early mature phase, and in seeing how the author turns everyday travel into lyrical writing. Best read slowly in quiet moments, or alongside poems such as "Farewell Again, Cambridge" to understand Xu Zhimo's aesthetic taste and language style. For readers curious about Republican-era prose or seeking nourishment from short pieces, this is a light but lingering anthology.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy modern prose and lyrical writing
Literature lovers interested in Republican-era literature and the Crescent Moon School
Readers hoping to draw writing inspiration from short pieces
People who want light reading for commutes or before sleep

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic literary history or academic scholarship
Readers who prefer strong plot and fast-paced narrative
Readers not interested in the style of lyrical prose

Reading tips

Read one or two pieces a day, pause afterward, and note down lines that move you.
Read alongside Xu Zhimo's poems and notice the differences in rhythm between prose and poetry.
When reading the travel sections, consult a map of the places mentioned to strengthen the sense of space.
On a second reading, focus on how the author moves from scenery to feeling, and from events to reflection.

版权信息
云游
在病中
雁儿们
鲤跳
别拧我，疼
领罪
难忘
怨得
梦
夜
想飞
阔的海
残破
生活
印度洋上的秋思
泰山日出
常州天宁寺闻礼忏声
我听着了天宁寺的礼忏声！
翡冷翠山居闲话
巴黎的鳞爪
“浓得化不开”之二（香港）
北戴河海滨的幻想
天目山中笔记
“迎上前去”
泰戈尔
婴儿
问谁
五老峰
在那山道旁
破庙
对月
两个月亮
涡堤孩新婚歌（译）

FAQ

Is this book a novel or an essay collection?

Judging from the title and the author's style, it is a collection of essays and travel writing, not a work of fiction. It is best entered slowly, piece by piece, attending to language and feeling rather than following a continuous plot.

Can I read this directly without having read Xu Zhimo's poetry?

Yes. The essays stand fairly independently and do not require a background in his poetry. To understand his aesthetic taste more deeply, you can read representative poems such as "Farewell Again, Cambridge" afterward for comparison.

Is it suitable as extracurricular reading for middle school students?

Some pieces are beautifully written and suitable for middle school students to feel the rhythm of vernacular prose; but the emotional expression is fairly personal, so guided selection with teacher or parent support, along with background information, is recommended.

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About the author

Xu Zhimo Author · Chinese · 1897–1931

Xu Zhimo (1897–1931) was a native of Haining, Zhejiang, and a modern Chinese poet and essayist who became a leading figure of the Crescent Moon School. He studied in the United States and Britain, began writing new poetry in 1921, helped found the Crescent Moon Society, and edited publications such as the poetry supplement of Chen Bao and the journal Xinyue, leaving a lasting influence on modern Chinese poetry. His representative collections include Poems of Zhimo, A Night in Florence, and The Tiger. His verse is known for its clear language, gentle rhythm, and sincere feeling, often linking natural scenery with personal emotion and combining romantic sensibility with musicality; his essays are likewise graceful and free in style. The collection holds 145 of his works, including modern poetry, classic works, and translations of foreign literature such as Candide and L'Ingénu, reflecting his dual role as poet and translator. Xu Zhimo died in a plane crash in 1931.