The Valiant Lady
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who love Republican-era popular literature and want to understand the original face of old-school martial arts fiction
- Literary researchers interested in Bai Yu and the social irony school of martial arts fiction
- Veteran martial arts fans who have read Jin Yong and Gu Long and hope to trace the origins of the genre
- Collectors interested in the collation and republication of Republican-era documents
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer fast-paced, plot-heavy fiction and seek the thrill of modern web novels
- Those unaccustomed to Republican-era vernacular style and the narrative pace of old-school fiction
- Readers who seek only novelty and excitement and do not care about social allegory
Reading tips
- First read the preface or publication note to understand Bai Yu's life and the characteristics of the "social irony school," then enter the main text.
- While reading, pay attention to characters' dialogue and marketplace descriptions to appreciate the social satire beneath the martial arts shell.
- Read in comparison with works by other Republican-era martial arts writers to feel the stylistic differences among schools.
- When encountering old expressions or folk details, consult notes or reference books as needed; there is no need to rush past them.
About the publisher
China Culture and History Press has long devoted itself to modern and contemporary literature and culture-and-history reading matter, with publishing directions centered on classic works, social novels, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy, alongside culture-and-history periodicals such as Zongheng. Among the more than 1,500 titles in the collection, representative books include Zhang Henshui's Ti Xiao Yin Yuan, Lu Xun's Complete Classic Works (10 volumes) and Wild Grass, and Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof series and the boxed set of Lao She's Classic Works (10 volumes), while its author resources are concentrated on figures such as Zhang Henshui, Lu Xun, Lao She and Sima Qian. Its publishing character lies in solid editorial work on culture-and-history source texts and in issuing famous authors' works in sets, balancing the readability of individual texts with the systematic presentation of complete collections for focused reading and collecting. Beyond these directions, public information on the press's contemporary original publishing is limited, so it is not elaborated here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 我的生平
- 第一章 车前拦双美酒楼论人妖
- 第二章 护芳邻兄妹御寇
- 第三章 幕后短剑窗畔嗅异香
- 第四章 外家避贼突逢卖花娘
- 第五章 雄娘子再呈色相
- 第六章 同床异梦一击未中
- 第七章 蝶恋花愁侠女夜奔
- 第八章 飞来艳奔则为妾
- 第九章 冤家聚首雄娘子失脚
- 第十章 情留余孽
- 附录
- 整理后记
FAQ
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About the author
Bai Yu (1899–1966), originally named Gong Wanxuan and later Gong Zhuxin, was a prominent Republican-era Chinese writer of martial arts fiction. His ancestral home was Dong'e, Shandong, and he was born in Machang, Tianjin. In his early years he received guidance from Lu Xun and Zhou Zuoren and engaged in new literature writing before turning to martial arts fiction; he rose to fame in 1938 with The Twelve Money Darts. His works combine martial arts fiction with social fiction, and his representative works also include Stealing Boxing, Records of Martial World Strife, The Joint Escort Chronicle, and Blood-Washed Cold Light Sword. He is counted among the "Five Masters of Northern School Martial Arts Fiction." Bai Yu's novels emphasize social observation and character portrayal and hold a place in Republican-era popular literature. In his later years he turned to the study of oracle bones and epigraphy. Public information on the details of his life is limited; the collection contains 77 works, mostly on martial arts, social, and folk themes.