Seven Contemporary Chinese Women Writers

by Gladys Yang (Editor), Ru Zhijuan, Huang Zongying

Book. Softcover. Writers. Chinese Women Writers.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, China

280 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1982

About the author

Gladys Yang (Chinese: 戴乃迭; pinyin: Dài Nǎidié; 19 January 1919 – 18 November 1999) was a British translator of Chinese literature and the wife of another noted literary translator, Yang Xianyi. Her father was a missionary to China and, from childhood, she became intrigued by Chinese culture.

Born Gladys Margaret Tayler in Beijing, she returned to England as a child and became Oxford University's first graduate in Chinese language in 1940. She met Yang at Oxford. After their marriage, the Beijing-based couple became prominent translators of Chinese literature into English during the latter half of the twentieth century at the Foreign Languages Press.
[Wikipedia]

Reviews

[Haleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating stories! Each story is poetic and captivating. I turned through the pages without even realising it. I could not put this book down.

Each story is interesting. Each story details aspects of China (fiction and not) that enlighten and fascinate the reader. Some of the translations are better than the others. And though some of the writing seems rudimentary (maybe from the translation) the meaning of the story still demonstrates a deep and complex character.
Shen Rong's story may be my favourite but each of them provide a new and interesting understanding of people living in China.

[David Bonesteel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories presents an interesting picture of life in evolving modern China. The stories are mostly concerned with the legacy of Mao's Cultural Revolution, so readers interested in the tension between tradition and the country's new-fangled hybrid of state-controlled capitalism might want to look elsewhere. Cultural interest aside, I found some of the stories a bit too sentimental, almost maudlin at times. Nevertheless, it held my interest and it provides that most valuable service of translated literature: it shows us that people in all cultures are more alike than unlike. Unfortunately, the people who really need to learn that lesson will never pick up a book like this.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the underlying themes of love and heartbreak during the cultural revolution; how following what was expected of you by society caused heartbreak and love lost. That being said, I wouldn’t want anyone to assume these stories are only focused on matters of the heart, something many would label as a ‘girly’ topic. They explore friendship, career, sense of belonging, ageing and what could of been. They all do well to explore injustice faced by innocent intellectuals or those from the wrong class background during the 10 year struggle period. My favourites were ‘Melody in Dreams’ by Zong Pu and ‘At Middle Age’ by Shen Rong. I read this for academic purposes, as a starting point for my dissertation, but even so they were all enjoyable and engaging to read.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1982, the writing was a bit stilted (which happens with translations) but I enjoyed this.
The theme was the aftermath of the cultural revolution.

At Middle Age by Shen Rong was my favorite- the story of an eye surgeon struggling to raise a family.

[Barbara Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting portrait of women's lives in China in the early 1980's. Some of the translation sounds awkward, but it doesn't really detract from the charm of the stories.

[Nourhan Jamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mre likely 3.5-ish. It's really good though.

[David B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories presents an interesting picture of life in evolving modern China. The stories are mostly concerned with the legacy of Mao's Cultural Revolution, so readers interested in the tension between tradition and the country's new-fangled hybrid of state-controlled capitalism might want to look elsewhere. Cultural interest aside, I found some of the stories a bit too sentimental, almost maudlin at times. Nevertheless, it held my interest and it provides that most valuable service of translated literature: it shows us that people in all cultures are more alike than unlike. Unfortunately, the people who really need to learn that lesson will never pick up a book like this.