From Occupation to Revolution: China Through the Eyes of Loti, Claudel, Segalen and Malraux - 1895-1933

This book studies four major French writers who differed widely in their understanding of Chinese civilization and whose length of stay in the country ranged from a few days (Malraux) to fourteen years (Claudel). The four authors chose to present completely different aspects of China in addition to harboring dissimilar attitudes towards the nation and its people. This book aims at identifying which aspects of the complex entity called 'China' each writer saw fit to present and the personal and ideological reasons underlying his choice. It also attempts to read their works against the Chinese historical background, including contemporary Chinese liteature, and to gauge their sensitivity to the momentous changes that were occurring during this transitional period.