Autumn

Xu Zhimo / 陆小曼Feb 2023

Rating 4.0

Word count: 8.5K words
Chapters: 5

Summary

"A brilliant gem in the history of Chinese new poetry." This edition preserves the original flavor of Xu Zhimo's work to the greatest extent, letting readers feel the boundless literary grace, passion, and wisdom between the lines.

Editor's review

Autumn continues the literary grace and passion characteristic of Xu Zhimo's work. This edition preserves the original flavor of the language as much as possible, letting readers directly experience the wisdom and emotional warmth between the lines. The materials do not provide detailed information on the individual pieces, so it should be read as an entry point into Xu Zhimo's literary world: do not expect a plot; focus on experiencing the rhythm, imagery, and flow of emotion in his language. It suits slow reading in quiet moments—mark the sentences that move you as you go, and revisit them afterward to see more clearly how the author conveys the movements of the mind through words. For writers of modern prose, it is also a fine sample for observing verbal texture and emotional expression.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want to feel the literary grace and passion of Xu Zhimo's language
Lovers of modern prose willing to read slowly and savor the rhythm of the words
Writing students who want to observe how emotion is translated into words

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete plot and character-driven story
Beginners who need detailed annotations or introductions to enter Republican-era vernacular Chinese
Readers who only want to acquire knowledge and information quickly and are unwilling to read slowly

Reading tips

Read a short passage each time, reading aloud to feel the rhythm and emotional rises and falls of the language.
Mark the sentences that move you as you go; after finishing, review them together and write down your impressions.
Do not pursue reading speed; it is fine to skip around according to interest—the point is to savor the words.
After reading, try imitating his sentence patterns in a short passage of your own to experience the measure of expression.

版权信息
秋
正文一
正文二
翡冷翠日记（四页）

FAQ

What is the difference between this book and Self-Anatomy?

Both belong to Xu Zhimo's work and both preserve the original flavor of the language as much as possible. The materials for Self-Anatomy clearly divide it into three sections, with a clear structure; the materials for Autumn do not provide specific information on the pieces, so it is better read as an entry point for appreciating his literary grace and passion, without presupposing a fixed structure.

Do I need to know about Xu Zhimo's life to read this book?

You can read it without first systematically studying his life; the focus is on feeling the language and emotion. A basic understanding of his era and experiences will make it easier to follow the emotions behind the words, but the materials do not elaborate on biographical details, so it is best to focus on the text itself.

Is it suitable as a reference for writing?

Yes. The language in the book prizes literary grace and passion, and offers a way to observe how emotion is conveyed through rhythm, imagery, and sentence patterns. It is best to mark expressions worth borrowing as you read and do short imitation exercises—more rewarding than simply reading straight through.

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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.

陆小曼 Author

Lu Xiaoman is a writer and translator closely associated with Xu Zhimo in the history of modern Chinese literature. Public information about her life and nationality is limited, and her surviving works have mostly come down to us in collected and selected editions. The library holds forty-five related works, including the two parts of Meng Hu Ji, the second part of Feilengcui de Yi Ye, and Yun You, as well as translations such as Candide and The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield, along with collections like The Complete Xu Zhimo Works and The Collected Works of Xu Zhimo. These works show that her writing and translation span poetry, fiction, and prose, with delicate, graceful language and restrained yet sincere feeling, often echoing the literary taste of the Crescent Moon School. Her editorial and translational efforts preserve valuable material for later understanding of Xu Zhimo and the Republican-era literary scene, and keep her own literary talent alive.