China Through Its Greatest Literary Voices

Imagine an iron house without windows, absolutely indestructible, with many people fast asleep inside who will soon die of suffocation. But you know since they will die in their sleep, they will not feel the pain of death. Now if you cry aloud to wake a few of the lighter sleepers, making those unfortunate few suffer the agony of irrevocable death, do you think you are doing them a good turn?

But if a few awake, you can't say there is no hope of destroying the iron house.

– Lu Xun, 1922, often referred to as the father of modern Chinese literature.

This time around I'm recommending an entire series. The Chinese Literature Podcast is hosted by China scholars Lee and Rob Moore and it's a wonderful introduction to modern Chinese literature. Their archives are like a free introductory course on the great works of modern Chinese literature. 

In particular I recommend checking out the episode on Zhang Ailing's Sealed Off which delves into the inner worlds of Shanghaiers during the Japanese occupation. Lee and Rob's exploration of Communist party member and lifelong feminist Ding Ling's controversial Miss Sophie's Dairy is another must. Several episodes are dedicated to "the father of modern Chinese literature" Lu Xun—the look at his satirical work Diary of a Madman delves into the author's critique of the Confucian bonds of obligation in Chinese society, likening them to cannibalism.