The Chinese May Fourth Generation and the Irish Literary Revival: Writers and Fighters

This book explores how the Irish Literary Revival inspired the Chinese Renaissance (the May Fourth generation) of writers to make agentic choices and translingual exchanges, providing an alternative decolonizing model of resistance. It also shows how Chinese May Fourth intellectuals translated Irish Revivalist plays and how Chinese peasants performed these plays as a form of anti-imperial resistance, leading to a reciprocal encounter based on the circulation of Anti-colonial ideals and mutual transformation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 425 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This captivating book delves into the profound influence of the early twentieth-century Irish Renaissance, known as the Irish Literary Revival, on the Chinese Renaissance, famously referred to as the May Fourth generation. By exploring the intricate connections between these two literary movements, the author sheds light on a hitherto overlooked aspect of history. Through meticulous research and analysis, the book establishes that the Irish Literary Revival served as an alternative model of decolonization, offering a fresh perspective on the May Fourth movement. It further argues that Chinese May Fourth intellectuals translated Irish Revivalist plays by renowned authors such as W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, Seán OCasey, and Synge, which were then performed by Chinese peasants across China during the 1920s and 1930s as a form of anti-imperial resistance.

However, this literary exchange was not a one-way street, as the Irish Revivalists themselves were influenced by the advancements in literature and politics in China. This reciprocal encounter was fueled by the circulation of anti-colonial ideals and mutual transformation, creating a rich tapestry of cultural exchange. The book not only sheds new light on the historical relationship between Ireland and China but also offers valuable insights into the complexities of decolonization and the power of literature to inspire social change. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, history, and resistance.

Weight: 724g
Dimension: 332 x 231 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789819952687
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023