The Real Story of Ah-Q and Other Tales of China

Lu Xun (Lu Hsun) is arguably the greatest writer of modern China, and is considered by many to be the founder of modern Chinese literature. Lu Xun's stories both indict outdated Chinese traditions and embrace China's cultural richness and individuality. This volume presents brand-new translations by Julia Lovell of all of Lu Xun's stories, including 'The Real Story of Ah-Q', 'Diary of a Madman', 'A Comedy of Ducks', 'The Divorce' and 'A Public Example', among others. With an afterword by Yiyun Li.

Lu Xun (1881–1936) studied to be a doctor before turning to writing, as the self-appointed literary physician of China’s spiritual ills. After his death, he was called “the saint of modern China” by Mao Zedong, who commandeered him in service of the Cultural Revolution. Julia Lovell (translator) teaches modern Chinese history and literature at Birkbeck College, University of London. Her translations include Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang, Serve the People by Yan Lianke, and I Love Dollars by Zhu Wen. Yiyun Li (afterword), one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists Under 35 and one of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” best fiction writers, is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Whiting Writers’ Award, and the Guardian First Book Award. Born in Beijing, she lives in Oakland, California.