' TALES OF HULAN RIVER ' : BOOK REVIEW

 

'' Hu lan he zhuan '' or ' Tales Of Hulan River ' By Xiao Hong - is a celebrated autobiographical novel by the Chinese writer Xiao Hong [ 1911 - 1942 ].

It is a poignant and evocative story about the author's childhood, when she was between three to 12 years old [ ie 1914 - 1923 ], which she spent in a remote village near the Hulan River in northeastern China.

The novel explores themes of poverty, hardship, social injustice and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Xiao Hong's writing is known for its lyrical beauty, vivid imagery and introspective nature.

TALES OF HULAN RIVER is considered a classic of modern Chinese literature. It has been praised for its authenticity, emotional depth and its portrayal of life in rural China during a turbulent period.

As Mao Dun explains the repeated failure to achieve goals and fulfil aspirations creates a sense of futility and despair in our novelist Xiao Hong. This constant disappointment led her to a feeling of being disconnected from life's purpose and meaning.

The initial confidence in her abilities, a source of strength and motivation, is eroded by the pressures of life. This loss of self-belief further isolates her, making it harder to connect with others or find joy in her work.

It is the most profound level of loneliness described, which goes beyond the absence of social connection. Xiao Hong feels alienated from her own spirit, her sense of purpose and her connection to the world.

Xiao Hong wrote this novel toward the end of her life. It is her memorial to her hometown, which she detested so much that she never returned to visit it, but which she also cared for enough to write about before dying.

It is a work that is all at once tragic, heart-rending and beautiful.

You get to learn about a life in Chinese village. The people of the village are simple and very poor. They are content with their lives and try to manage with their limited means of living.

They have few occasions throughout the year to celebrate, for which they take extra care, as it is only on these occasions they get to meet their relatives.

Their respective profession, passed down through generations, are as humble as their lives. Each profession, though modest, is a testament to their resilience, a testament to their ability to find beauty and meaning in the face of adversity.

The World Students Society thanks Hajra Rehan.