A Study On The History Writing Of Chen He's Novels

Chinese Canadian Chen He is one of the main writers in the overseas Chinese literary circles.Most of his literary works are based on history,and he endeavors to explore the truth,humanity and value behind history with a calm,objective and serious attitude.History is the key word for interpreting the connotation of Chen's novels.Meanwhile,as an overseas Chinese writer,looking back at the history of his original country,he finds a sense of beauty produced by distance.Therefore,Chen's view of history and reflection on life is all covered with an “exotic” color,which affects his selection of writing themes,merges into his narrative strategy,and displays the unique value of his historical writing.After intensive reading of the text,the author of this thesis tries to thoroughly study and discuss the historical writing of Chen's novels by straightening out the historical writing themes of his novels,analyzing the historical narrative techniques and exploring the value of his historical writing in the hope of providing a new perspective for research of Chen's works.The main body of the thesis is divided into three parts.The first part is mainly to sort out the themes and contents of history writing of Chen's novels.Through combing the works of immigration history such as "Albania series" and "little international student series",this thesis aims to discuss both the physical and spiritual dilemmas facing those new immigrants wandering in foreign land in Chen's works,as well as show the writer's somber reflection on culture and the gravity of immigrants' life.Then,in the narration of the miserable history of the "Cultural Revolution",Chen concerns himself with the ups and downs of ordinary people's fate in the historical background,highlighting their out-of-control fate and the distortion of humanity in the special era.Finally,in the "Southeast Asian Series" related to anti-war history,Chen dug out the little-known war history of overseas Chinese,expressing his meditation on the history,retrospection of the pioneers,and praise for the truth,benevolence and beauty in human nature.The second part revolves mainly around the narrative strategy of history writing of Chen's novels.Blessed with a strong creativity,Chen narrates history by artistic methods such as combination of grand narration and individual one,documentary narration and fictional one,and metaphorical narration by using unique images and cultural symbols.In short,he writes moving stories beyond time,space,and race with a wonderful narrative strategy,and describes the vicissitudes of ordinary people drifting in the historical torrent,stories that are closely bound up with individuals,countries and even the world.The third part is mainly to refine and summarize the value appeal of Chen's historical writing.He regards history as the background of narration,and shifts his focus from the outside of history to the subject of history--the fate of the individual.Chen always discloses the underlying diseases of human society with a calm,serious and profound narrative method.On this basis,he explores the good and evil,desires and ideals of human nature,in order to realize the individual's free grasp of self-life.