Historical Dictionary of Modern Chinese Literature

Ying (Chinese and Japanese, Bard College, New York State) adopts a more inclusive, and so more controversial, view of the intersection between Chinese and modern than many might. She chronologically she extends from the May Fourth generation in the early 20th century to the present. She limits her study to literature in the Chinese language, but acknowledging the role of vernacular language, she excludes texts in classical Chinese. Geographically, she encompasses Chinese writers in the People's Republic, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and those who have settled in the West but continue to address matters Chinese and are considered part of the Chinese literary universe. All but a very few of the entries cite novelists, poets, playwrights, essayists, and other writers. Other topics include The Left-Wing Association of Chinese Writers, The New Culture Movement, women's emancipation, the Sino-Japanese War 1937-45, and scar literature. There is no index. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Li-hua Ying is director of the Chinese and Japanese Program at Bard College. She is also the executive director of the Association of Shufa Calligraphy Education, an academic organization based in the United States.