This book is one of the series "Shen Congwen's Stories of Western Hunan".
This book includes Shen Congwen's short and medium-length novels such as "Xiao Xiao", "Qiaoxiu and Dongsheng", "Unexpected Legend", "Mountain Ghost", "Wang's Wife" and "Company Commander", as well as prose such as "Changde's Ship", "Yuanling People", "Several Wharfs in the Baihe River Basin" and "Phoenix". The novels among them represent Shen Congwen's transformation from the impressionistic writing of early rural reminiscences to the in-depth depiction of realism, demonstrating the theme of "not contrary to human nature", that is, in compliance with natural human nature. The prose works were obtained after he returned to Xiangxi to analyze the current situation and think about it. They show the bright and unsophisticated scenery of Xiangxi and are also full of the author's hidden worries and philosophical thinking about life.
This book is accompanied by photos taken by photographer Zhuo Ya over more than 30 years, vividly restoring the characters and story scenes written by Shen Congwen. These images truly represent a world in western Hunan where primitiveness and mystery are intertwined, and brutality and beauty coexist.
Reader comments
The characters all have distinct personalities and unique experiences, which made me feel the charm and mystery of Xiangxi. The prose in the book is the icing on the cake, and those beautiful scenery made me feel like I was actually there. Together with the photographer's photos, the world of Xiangxi is even more vivid. This book is not only a literary work, but also a wonderful presentation of Xiangxi culture. It is worth reading!
The characters all have distinct personalities and unique experiences, which made me feel the charm and mystery of Xiangxi. The prose in the book is the icing on the cake, and those beautiful scenery made me feel like I was actually there. Together with the photographer's photos, the world of Xiangxi is even more vivid. This book is not only a literary work, but also a wonderful presentation of Xiangxi culture. It is worth reading!