Shen Congwen 沈從文 1902-1988

Shen is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of modern China. He was born in Hunan province, to a family with a military tradition; his knowledge of aboriginal peoples in south-western Hunan, and his experience in a local army regiment were, in later years, indispensable assets to his writing. In 1922, he went to Beijing, where he wrote intensely and became acquainted with other influential literary figures. He published Bian cheng 邊城 [Border town], probably his best-known novel, in 1934. After 1949 he stopped writing and devoted himself to historical research.

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