A Brief History of Chinese Fiction

This classic treatise on Chinese literature was originally published in English in 1959. Its author is Lu Xun (1881-1936), one of the most critically and culturally significant literary figures in 20th century China, and figurehead of China's New Culture movement. This book originated from Lu Xun's own lectures on the historical development of Chinese fiction from early myths and legends to the finely-honed epic novels of eighteenth and nineteenth century China. This remarkable book is therefore one of the first systematic studies of the history of Chinese fiction by a Chinese writer. A core text on Chinese literature, it still commands great influence among Chinese and Western scholars even today. Translated from the Chinese by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang. With a new Foreword (2014) by Professor Moss Roberts, New York University.