Within The Human Realm: The Poetry Of Huang Zunxian, 1848-1905 (cambridge Studies In Chinese History, Literature And Institutions)

This book is a study of the poetry of Huang Zunxian, one of the most famous authors of late nineteenth-century China. The first part consists of a detailed biography outlining Huang's literary and political career. This is followed by a critical discussion of Huang's poetry, including such topics as his theory of literature, his traditional verse, his highly original poetry on foreign lands, his political satire, and his scientific verse. The book concludes with a generous sampling of his poetry in translation, some of which has never before appeared in English. Nowadays, Huang Zunxian's birthplace, the city of Meizhou (also called Meixian), is best known in China for its champion soccer teams and large concentration of overseas Chinese retirees, but any traveler wishing to escape the twentieth-century glitter of office buildings and hotels can stroll down its narrow alleys to admire the many imposing old mansions with gray tile roofs, sturdy stone pillars, and intricately carved wooden doors (mostly in an advanced state of decay), all witnesses of a long and colorful history. This book is a study of the poetry of Huang Zunxian, one of the most famous authors of late nineteenth-century China. The first part consists of a detailed biography outlining Huang's literary and political career; the second, of a critical discussion of Huang's poetry. The book concludes with a generous sampling of his poetry in translation.