500 Great Books By Women discussion

Miss Sophie's Diary, Ding Ling, translated [from Chinese] by W. J. F. Jenner, 1927-1941, China, SHORT STORIES

"...Ding Ling's frankness about the power of emotions and sexual desire are refreshing, coming from a country where the existence of women's feelings has been largely denied for centuries, and at a time (the late 1920s to early 1940s) when foreign invasion and mass economic deprivation were constant...An ardent Communist, she created stories that reflected her beliefs without sacrificing memorable characters..."

(C.C.-L., p. 27)

Review Cache
James

Very surprised this is here! Ding Ling is one of those names rarely ever heard outside of very niche talks. I really hope some publisher does a magical resurrection; the problems that plague the WJF Jenner version I think does come down to its old-fashioned translation. In an alternate universe, where my Chinese was better, I would do my own translations (!) Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you for your review, James. It has been incorporated above. You should spam the NYRB Classics people with requests that they include Ling in their revamps of Chinese translations.