In this general history of modern Chinese literature, McDougall (Chinese literature, Edinburgh U.) describes the fiction, drama, and poetry, and the historical and cultural developments, in
three key periods: first, 1900-37, when Western influences led to new concepts of literature; second, 1938-65, when the Japanese invasion and the rise of the Communists marked a return to
Chinese traditions followed by political restraint of literary production; and third, 1966-89, when underground literature set the stage for an era of experimentation. Annotation c. by Book
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