《A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINESE FICTION》

《A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINESE FICTION(中国小说史略)》内容简介：This book was written by Lu Hsun, pioneer and standard-bearer of modern Chinese literature, during the early 1920s. It is a study of the historicaldevelopment of Chinese fiction from early myths and legends down to well-developed long novels written at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The characteristics of various forms of fiction through the centuries, the development of these forms and their influence on each other are lucidly presented, while such major works as the novels Hung Lou Meng （A Dream of Red Mansions） and Shui Hu Chuan （Outlaws of the Marsh） are reviewed in detail. Chinese fiction had its roots in story-telling, and folk literature of this kind was despised by the feudal ruling class. The May 4th Movement of 1919 dealt a mortal blow to the feudal forces in Chinese culture. Then the study of this form of lit- erature began to make headway, Lu Hsun being one of the first to carry out researches in the field. This book, the earliest systematic study of the history ofChinese fiction by a Chinese writer, still exercises agreat influence among Chinese scholars. The English translation is illustrated with re-productions of early Chinese woodcuts.