Chinese Literature - (Key Issues in Asian Studies) by Ihor Pidhainy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this brief yet thorough introduction to the key features and important names of Chinese literature, Ihor Pidhainy covers Chinese writings from oracle bones to the internet. Contextualizing the literature within political, historical and cultural frames, Prof. Pidhainy also provides a smorgasbord of examples from the authors noted. Written with a college freshman (or senior in high school) in mind, the book combines an introduction to the key features of Chinese literature, the names of outstanding writers and movements, and some interesting anecdotes that will leave students amused and curious for more. Grounded in historical and cultural contexts, the book also includes sufficient excerpts that will allow instructors freedom from supplementing the text. It may thus be used as a standalone text in a literature class or a supplementary text in a history course.

About the Author

IHOR PIDHAINY is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of West Georgia. He works on late imperial Chinese history, biography and literature. His work includes an edited volume on the contemporary Taiwan writer Wang Wenxing, Reading Wang Wenxing: Critical Essays (Cornell University Press), and an edited volume on Chinese biography. He is also the editor of the journal Ming Studies.