PrefaceWhen Shanghai Wave held a literary contest in the genre of “new urban fiction”, I thought seriously about what “new urban fiction” means. Why is it called “new”? How does it compare with traditional urban fiction? And how do we define “old urban fiction”?Hepburn Shoes on the Double Decker is a collection of urban fiction stories from 2008 and will be published in a book. Some of the stories have been printed by the magazine and have drawn critical reviews, quite favorably.Because I get every issue of Shanghai Wave, I have read some of these stories. To publish this book, I read them once again. Then, it dawned on me that the characters depicted in these stories are either Chinese returning from overseas studies or company employees or young entrepreneurs. These urban white-collars are pursuing their dreams of career, love, marriage and family life. They are individuals of a new century, well-educated, well-paid, living a fast-paced city life, and influenced by the clash of Eastern and Western cultures. Their values and morals differ from tradition and from those of ordinary youths.Reading these unique and vivid stories, we can feel that these office workers, no matter where they are, at home or in office, in a bar or a café, have inner conflict under a placid countenance. Their pains and struggle are beyond many people’s imagination and their pursuit of success and true love is not well understood and accepted.The life of urban white-collars is as colorful as is their inner world. This perhaps is the main feature of today’s city life. This collection of “new urban fiction” mirrors, in vivid imagery, their pursuit of success and love. A big city is not all about offices. It is a colorful, complex society where people at all levels play a role. Since China began its reform and opening in the late 1970s, the cities have witnessed the emergence of new social classes, new settings, new people and new things. For example, the working class now lives in the suburbs. A driver may go to work in his Santana and drives a limo for his billionaire boss. If you roam the street, a marketplace and a residential area any time of the day, you will find the unique urban atmosphere and daily dramas unfolding in the street or alley. This land is fertile for “new urban fiction”.I think “new urban fiction” should make city readers say: “hey, this is about my city. This is about my life.” It should also make those who haven’t been to a big city live its colorful life vicariously. Moreover, it should show the world that Chinese city life is fascinating, just as I was captivated by a novel describing Montevideo before I made a trip to Uruguay.I hope Shanghai Wave can find more and better “new urban fiction” stories that portray various characters in the city.Maybe I am demanding too much.(Ye Xin is the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Writers’ Association)
EpilogueAll the works contained in this book are prize-winning “new urban fiction” stories selected by Shanghai Wave in recent two years.As the editor of Shanghai Wave, a literary and life magazine for Chinese white-collars, I followed the style of New Yorker in designing its content. Every issue has a short story of about 1, 000 words under the label of “new urban fiction”. A journalist friend once asked me, “what is new urban fiction?” In my opinion, although Chinese literature has flourished after the country embarked on reform and opening, only a small percentage of the vast number of literary works touch on the life of urban white-collars who are the driving force of today’s cities. These young people and student-turned entrepreneurs live a colorful life in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and other cities, but they look pale in many fictions. In that sense, our literature has to reflect a constantly changing society.Thanks to the support of Wang Xinling, Zhu Jianzhong, Qu Lihua and Tang Xuefeng of Gaoqiao Township in Pudong and Sun Changsheng and Wu Yun of BioAsia Co Ltd, the magazine was able to launch two rounds of “new urban fiction” contest.Mr Jin Binhua, member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and vice chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, was kind enough to write the title of the contest in calligraphy. Esteemed Chinese authors, Deng Youmei, Chen Jiangong and Gao Hongbo also gave their support to the activity. Vice Chairman of the Chinese Literary Federation and playwright Wu Yigong and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association Ye Xin both served as advisor to the organizing committee of the literary contest.The activity also received support from Beijing and Shanghai book critics, such as Li Jingze, Yan Jingming, Wang Gan, Zhang Ling, Zhang Yiwu, Xie Xin, Wu Jun, Yang Yang, Zhang Xinying, Gao Yuanbao, Ge Hongbing and Chen Yongxin. They acted as judges. Professor Chen Sihe, dean of Chinese Language Department of Fudan University, was chief of jury for two terms.The literary contest drew active participation from writers at home and abroad, from America to Australia, Japan and Singapore. Works contributed by Yang Zhifeng, Xiao Wei, Yang Haidi, Wang Chunming, Zhang Yingying, Lei Na, Wang Xiaoyun, Guan Yancao, Qi Xiaofeng, Chuan Ni, Shi Yu and Wang Yang are particularly worthy of recommendation for their vivid portrayal of young white-collars in foreign companies, returned Chinese students looking for a career, and entrepreneurs in cut-throat competition. They are all individuals with dream, love, passion, frustration, dignity and endurance. They personify the changes caused by reform and opening, globalization, and cultural diversification. Their stories brim with a sense of self-respect, self-confidence and self-reliance.This beautifully designed book gives me a feeling of great achievement. I would like to use this space to convey my heart-felt thanks to Wu Wei, deputy director of the State Council Information Office; Yang Yiping, Chi Zhigang and He Ling, vice chairmen of Shanghai Literary Federation; Zang Jianmin, secretary-general of Shanghai Writers Association; Li Xiangping, Jing Xiaomin and Zheng Lei, publisher and editors of China InterContinental Press. My thanks also go to Hu Zhen, Lin Jiayan, Liang Cheng, Yu Ruiyin and Dai Lili, student translators at Fudan University; to Qiu Xinye, assistant curator of Flushing Public Library, New York City, who helped to polish the translations, and to my colleague Pan Huajia for her vivid illustrations. Last but not least, I want to thank my three old friends Wang Mian, Yu Jiansheng and Jin Hao and my wife Ding Ying for supporting me all the time. Without them, this book would not be possible.We expect more and better “new urban fiction” stories to be born!John ChenMarch 2010
【免费在线读】
商品简介
改革开放使越来越多的人走进城市,成为新都市人。他们的命运,他们的生活,他们的变化都反映了近30年以来,尤其是进入新世纪以来中国所发生的社会巨变。新都市小说属于近年来中国文坛涌现出来的一个新流派,集中体现了中国都市年轻人的精神面貌和日常生活。 2009年,由上海市作协和上海市文联联合主办,《上海采风》杂志社具体承办,在全国范围内组织了一次当代中国新都市小说征稿评奖活动,引发了较大的社会反响,社会各界好评不断。本书搜集的19篇新都市小说就是从这次活动中脱颖而出的优秀作品,代表了中国当代新都市小说的*水平。 Reading these unique and vivid stories, we can feel that these office workers, no matter where they are, at home or in office, in a bar or a café, have inner conflict under a placid countenance. Their pains and struggle are beyond many people’s imagination and their pursuit of success and true love is not well understood and accepted. The life of urban white-collars is as colorful as is their inner world. This perhaps is the main feature of today’s Chinese city life.
目录 Preface
Interview
A Man Who Wears No Suit
Martha's Choice
Hepburn Shoes on the Double-Decker
Spell of the Painting
Nirvana of Love
A Compulsory Course
As Bright As The Peach Blossom
Lychee Martini
Bygones of No Significance
To The Nevedand Far Beyond My Reach
Be Sure to Live Happily
Lonely Love
17th Floor A Tower
About Being on the Shelf
Charlotte's Carpet
A False Turning of Love
Meeting Wichmann
White Moonlight
Epilogue 4o6
内容摘要 改革开放使越来越多的人走进城市,成为新都市人。他们的命运,他们的生活,他们的变化都反映了近30年以来,尤其是进入新世纪以来中国所发生的社会巨变。新都市小说属于近年来中国文坛涌现出来的一个新流派,集中体现了中国都市年轻人的精神面貌和日常生活。 2009年,由上海市作协和上海市文联联合主办,《上海采风》杂志社具体承办,在全国范围内组织了一次当代中国新都市小说征稿评奖活动,引发了较大的社会反响,社会各界好评不断。本书搜集的19篇新都市小说就是从这次活动中脱颖而出的优秀作品,代表了中国当代新都市小说的*水平。 Reading these unique and vivid stories, we can feel that these office workers, no matter where they are, at home or in office, in a bar or a café, have inner conflict under a placid countenance. Their pains and struggle are beyond many people’s imagination and their pursuit of success and true love is not well understood and accepted. The life of urban white-collars is as colorful as is their inner world. This perhaps is the main feature of today’s Chinese city life.
以下为对购买帮助不大的评价