A Short History of Classical Chinese Literature

The book gives a brief, systematic account of the development of Chinese literature from the earliest days to the May 4th Movement of 1919. Through this survey of a rich variety of literary forms, the realist tradition of classical Chinese literature is revealed, with its strong romanticism and deep humanism. The distinctive features of each historical period are described: the chief literary schools, and the position in literary history and achievements of the main writers, as well as the literary trends of their period and their influence on later ages. Short analyses are made of major works.