湘西散记

by Shen Congwen 沈从文, Yang Xianyi (Translator), Gladys Yang (Translator)

杨宪益、戴乃迭选译的这十一篇作品，是从沈从文的《从文自传》、《湘行散记》、《湘西》及题附在香港重印的《散文选》中的《劫后残稿》四个不同性质的集子中选出的。第一部分为《从文自传》的两篇，描写的是作者从童年到少年时代的成长与蜕变。少年逃学、嗜赌、当兵的经历及湘西的环境为他后来的创作提供了素材。第二部分的四篇散文选自《湘行散记》，“内中写的尽管只是沅水流域各个水码头及一只小船上纤夫水手等等琐细平凡人事得失哀乐，其实对于他们的过去与当前，都怀着不易形诸笔墨的沉痛和隐忧……”第三部分的四篇选自《湘西》，“把沅水流域和五个地方支流的‘人事’、‘生产’作了概括性的介绍”。第四部分来自《劫后残稿》，记录了作者1920年冬天回凤凰时目睹的满姓大户人家与邻村田家发生的恩怨情仇，内中充满传奇色彩。

Genres: Nonfiction, China, Biography

311 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Shen Congwen (沈从文, December 28, 1902 – May 10, 1988), formerly romanized as Shen Ts'ung-wen, was one of the greatest modern Chinese writers, on par with Lu Xun. Regional culture and identity plays a much bigger role in his writing than that of other major early modern Chinese writers. He was known for combining the vernacular style with classical Chinese writing techniques. Shen is the most important of the "native soil" writers in modern Chinese literature...

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shen_Con...

Reviews

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of Chinese history and literature lately. One, I've always been interested in other countries and cultures. Secondly, my son is currently living in Beijing and so I feel an extra connection, even though I've not visited China yet. I hope one day I'll be able to.


Congwen was a distinguished scholar of modern Chinese thought and literature from the first half of the 20th century. He was largely self-taught and Recollections of West Hunan is his autobiography.

From the book we learn that Congwen was not interested in formal academic training and preferred to learn from the world around him. This autobiography provides a colorful and rich account of life in China in Tujia, a remote minority region in the middle of China in a time gone by.

I enjoyed Congwen's descriptions and eye for detail from the nature to boy's play to family life and the kinds of education expected for a boy from a certain family. Recollections of West Hunan provided a window into another world and time.

[lclau · Rating 5 out of 5]

suggested by dad, great train read. how i wish more translations of his works were accessible. wishful

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

大概是我太浮躁了

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shen Congwen recounts his observations and experiences with religious practices and superstitions of the people in West Hunan province. He revealed how household worship, superstitions, wizards, jinxes, gu women, witches, cave spirits, ancestor worship, et cetera.

[Bert Brooking · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting recollections of china in esrly 20th century

[jungli · Rating 4 out of 5]

旧地重游，物是人非。风土人情，千姿百态。

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

有时候觉得沈从文和其他民国人物不同，情真意切地爱着这些老百姓。书是好书，可是在钢筋水泥中看，不免浮躁。