Analysis Of The Historical Novels Published Around1962

Based on close reading and text analyses on about40historical novels published around1962, this thesis investigates the difference of these novels, as well as their values and limitations, and demonstrates the profound impact of two of Chen Xiang-he’s novels on Chinese literature.The first part explores the backgrounds of the emergence of ’historical novel’ in modern history and its reference and representation. The transition of its literature style during the time of May Fourth New Literature is discussed—the unique spirit and will ever. A substantial body of modern historical novels, covering diverse range of themes, has investigated the art of novels from different perspective. Among those novels focusing on historical themes in the Seventeen Years, the most influential ones would be the contemporary literatures on Chinese Revolutionary History. This thesis specially concerns the novels demonstrating the history before the Revolution of1911, which were published in mainstream journals between the end of1961and the spring of1963. Academic researches before always considered The Writing of "Elegy" by Tao Yuan-ming and A Music From Guangling as the representative for those historical novels, and did an overall evaluation on them.In an attempt to clarify the external factors on the booming appearance and rapid stop of this historical novel-writing upsurge, Chapter1explores the relevant political background and the literature atmosphere in early1960s. At that time, thanks to the global backgrounds and the advocacy of taking advantage of historical resources, there was comparable freedom within literature community.In addition, the historical events at that time might also promote the upsurge of novel production. However, historical novels disappeared from the scene in the Seventeen Years because of the reorientation of political views and the emergence of the political slogans in late1962.The following chapter categorizes the historical novels into three groups. In the first category, the leading characters of the novels are heroes fighting against invasions from aliens. This kind of novels features the firm will and sublime spirits of the heroes. As for novels in the second category, they model ancient literati based on either the revolutionary discourse or the enlightenment discourse, thus indicate a two-way endorsement between ancient literati and contemporary writers.All these three categories of novels, to some extent, reflect the literature background of the Seventeen Year by pursuing rich discourse resources. However, the independent thinking of the contemporary intellectuals and their specific concerns on the reality of their times can only be represented by a body of historical novels which depict ancient literati with enlightenment discourse. Specifically, some pieces of novels by Huang Qiu-yun、Yao Xue-yin、Li Shu-si call for humanity, conscience, and empathy. In addition, two pieces of Chen Xiang-he’s historical novels, by demonstrating the5.4literary spirits and saving human nature and self, climaxed the Seventeen Years’ literatures.