Research On Novel Publishing Of Wenming Press From 1902 To 1915

Wenmin Press,one of the earliest new-type private publishing agencies which were engaged in textbook publishing at the end of the Qing dynasty,made a brilliant achievement in textbook and novel publishing with the aim of promoting enlightenment and cultivation.This thesis will research the novel publishing business of the Press,especially the publishing of novel offprints,series and periodicals between 1902 and 1915,from two phases.The first phase is the end of Qing dynasty(1902-1911)where the publishing types and representative works of Wenming Press will be analyzed in the historical and cultural context to explore how writers,works,readers and the Press intertwined and interacted with one another.Special emphasis will be given to Li Shu's cooperation with Wenming Press in his early years and the influence thereof on himself The other phase is the beginning of the Republic of China(1912-1915)after the Revolution of 1911 where the value orientation of the literary field had shifted from"enlightenment" to "aesthetics".The writer will elaborate on how the Press succeeded in revitalization by adapting its operating strategies at that timeThroughout the thesis,the research of novel publishing will always be kept in the context of the literary field,and the synergistic effect among the factors during the novel distribution will also be taken into account.The author will also elaborate on the promoting effect of the Press on the development of novels during the era of social transition by analyzing some representative works at that time as well as the Press'operation philosophy,marketing strategies,cover and layout designing,relevant advertisements on newspapers and other factors.In the meanwhile,the concepts of novel writing and the evolvement of novel styles will be explored through the research on the novel publishing of Wenming Press.