A Brief History of Chinese Fiction

This classic treatise on Chinese literature was originally published in English in 1959. Its author is none other than 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. A Brief History of Chinese Fiction 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. Expertly translated from the Chinese by noted husband and wife team of Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang. With a new Foreword by Professor Moss Roberts of New York University.