Zhou Zuoren (1885–1967)

Brother of famed writer Lu Xun (real name Zhou Shuren), Zhou Zuoren was a man of letters and education, mainly writing essays as opposed to his brother's realist fiction. Zhou saw the essay as a lost art amidst the wave of story writing that gripped Republican China, and in this collection (which is expertly translated with the original text alongside), the reader sees Zhou's unique style and wit. He writes of everyday occurrences, wider culture, and life lived peacefully, all of which earned him chastisement and censure from the established literary scene in China, yet instead show that he is his brother's equal in writing. These essays are a joy to read and reveal much about Chinese life during the 20s and 30s, and are worth reading too just for the joy of reading.… (más)