湘行散记

by Shen Congwen 沈从文

《湘行散记》是沈从文散文作品中的精品，有种民间活泼泼的味道。1934年，沈从文返回故里，眼见满目疮夷，美丽乡村变成一片凋零景象，悲从中来，一路写下这些文字，抒发他“无言的哀戚”。书中，作者细织密缝出他的童年、他的往事、以及远行中船头水边的见闻。其间散落数十封才子沈从文与张兆和的往来情书。该书文笔自然淳朴，有如行云流水，迷人的“湘西世界”，质朴的风情，构成了一个完整的艺术世界。

Genres: Nonfiction, China, Biography

227 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Shen Congwen (沈从文, December 28, 1902 – May 10, 1988), formerly romanized as Shen Ts'ung-wen, was one of the greatest modern Chinese writers, on par with Lu Xun. Regional culture and identity plays a much bigger role in his writing than that of other major early modern Chinese writers. He was known for combining the vernacular style with classical Chinese writing techniques. Shen is the most important of the "native soil" writers in modern Chinese literature...

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shen_Con...

Reviews

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of Chinese history and literature lately. One, I've always been interested in other countries and cultures. Secondly, my son is currently living in Beijing and so I feel an extra connection, even though I've not visited China yet. I hope one day I'll be able to.


Congwen was a distinguished scholar of modern Chinese thought and literature from the first half of the 20th century. He was largely self-taught and Recollections of West Hunan is his autobiography.

From the book we learn that Congwen was not interested in formal academic training and preferred to learn from the world around him. This autobiography provides a colorful and rich account of life in China in Tujia, a remote minority region in the middle of China in a time gone by.

I enjoyed Congwen's descriptions and eye for detail from the nature to boy's play to family life and the kinds of education expected for a boy from a certain family. Recollections of West Hunan provided a window into another world and time.

[lclau · Rating 5 out of 5]

suggested by dad, great train read. how i wish more translations of his works were accessible. wishful

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

大概是我太浮躁了

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shen Congwen recounts his observations and experiences with religious practices and superstitions of the people in West Hunan province. He revealed how household worship, superstitions, wizards, jinxes, gu women, witches, cave spirits, ancestor worship, et cetera.

[Bert Brooking · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting recollections of china in esrly 20th century

[jungli · Rating 4 out of 5]

旧地重游，物是人非。风土人情，千姿百态。

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

有时候觉得沈从文和其他民国人物不同，情真意切地爱着这些老百姓。书是好书，可是在钢筋水泥中看，不免浮躁。