Cosmopolitan Love: Utopian Vision in D. H. Lawrence and Eileen Chang

Sijia Yao's Cosmopolitan Love explores the writings of D. H. Lawrence and Eileen Chang to develop an idea of cosmopolitanism that shows how the writers are in conversation with their own culture and with each other, offering alternative understandings of modernism and cultural globalization. Their stories deal with emotional pain caused by the restrictions of local politics and economics and address common themes of incestuous love, sexual love, adulterous love, and utopian love.

Format: Hardback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Love, a ubiquitous theme in literature across the globe, takes center stage in Cosmopolitan Love. Sijia Yao delves into the writings of two renowned authors: D. H. Lawrence, a British writer known for his profound exploration of interpersonal relationships within domestic settings, and Eileen Chang, a Chinese writer who immigrated to the United States and delved into the complexities of Chinese heterosexual love in her works. Yao's approach is unique in that she avoids direct comparisons between East and West, seeking to transcend binary narratives. Instead, she employs the comparison to foster an idea of cosmopolitanism, highlighting how the writers engage in a dialogue with their own cultures and with each other.

Both D. H. Lawrence and Eileen Chang crafted stories that are intricately influenced by, yet sometimes stand in contrast to, their respective cultures. They present alternative perspectives on modernism and cultural globalization, offering fresh insights into the human experience. Their narratives delve into the depths of emotional pain inflicted by the constraints of local politics and economics, addressing universal themes such as incestuous love, sexual love, adulterous love, and utopian love. Through meticulous analysis of their writing, Yao showcases that the concept of love can transcend cultural boundaries and traditions, evolving into a foundation for human meaning and the cornerstone of a cosmopolitan vision.

In Cosmopolitan Love, Yao explores the profound connections between love, culture, and identity. She highlights how the writers navigate the complexities of cultural clashes and hybridity, employing their literary prowess to shed light on the universal human quest for love and understanding. Through her meticulous analysis, Yao invites readers to contemplate the transformative power of love as a catalyst for social change and a means of transcending boundaries. Cosmopolitan Love serves as a testament to the enduring relevance of love as a universal language that bridges gaps and fosters empathy and compassion.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472076536