Love Before Dawn

Contemporary novelists in dialogue with pioneers: the spirit of troubled times. Where does the literary path come from? Where does it go?
◎ Paving a shortcut to the core for the fractured literary generations, everyone can now immerse themselves in the bittersweet experiences of novelists such as Lai He, Weng Xiang, Zhang Wenhuan, and Lu Heruo.
They were precocious and sensitive children riding the tides of their time, growing up under the impact of a new civilization, redefining everything they saw. They were Taiwan's first generation of artistic youth, embracing the prosperity of new streets and the stimulation of a new language. They struggled to forge a path through the crevices of reality, leaving behind seeds of hope even if they vanished. "Love Before Dawn" is taken from Ong Kao's novel, "Yoshiki-ke-mae no Koi Monogatari," a tribute to this unconventional predecessor. It can also serve as a metaphor for the modern novel in Taiwan, from the stylistic explorations of the 1920s to the exhibitions of the 1940s, a period of passionate love. Despite the challenges of the environment, every writer cherished their passion in the darkness. Unfortunately, after dawn, this love was understood by no one, its dew evaporating.
This microscopic and slow-paced selection recreates the warm light and shadow of fourteen Taiwanese novelists from the Japanese colonial period, piecing together the writers' dreams and civilizations of the early 20th century and the oppressive reality that forced them to live.
A new atmosphere emanates from the writings of Wu Zhuoliu and Wang Shilang: the scent of soap and cigarettes, the clean and spacious Third Road, a dazzling array of new terms and imported goods, and the emergence of a prosperous city.
For whom does this new era usher in? Will it bring happiness or sorrow? Unleashing the constraints of paradigms, opening the treasure box of interpretation for Lai He, confronting the contradictions, anguish, and timidity within, we ponder again: was the once-vigorous "New Literature" truly in vain?
Recalling Yang Kui and Long Yingzong's trip to Tokyo, and the seemingly distant and contradictory, but in fact life-and-death friendship between Long Yingzong, Zhang Wojun and Xu Yuandong.
Returning to the summer afternoon in Lu Heruo's "Magnolia," at a moment of violent division between people, a spirit-calling ceremony attempts to explore the possibility of reconciliation.
Finally, two fairy tales illuminate Ong-joo, who always fought against worldly sophistication. His personality and literary works bear a striking resemblance to those of his contemporary, Osamu Dazai.
Metaphors of fruit, imaginary travel, modern cities, the sound of the times, a still-smoking cigarette. With a writer's empathy and a contemporary perspective, this book reinterprets stories from past generations, exploring accessible paths for a fractured literary generation. Enter the worlds of fiction by Lai He, Weng Xiang, Zhang Wenhuan, and Lu Heruo, among others.
"Let's change direction and experience the life of a writer from now on." - Yang Shouyu "The heart of this island city, the bustling and magnificent Eimachi and Kyomachi districts, is teeming with people. Shops, streets, and booths are bustling with activity." - Wang Shilang "Times say they have progressed, and indeed they have! I believe they have, but how can this progress lead to misfortune? Ah! The progress of times and human happiness are two different things." - Lai He "As students, we were too optimistic about society."
"Society rolls down like a giant rock, and we are the pitiful ones, crushed to the point of being worse than puppets." - Long Yingzong "Be careful not to let rain soak the roots of the sweet potatoes. Otherwise, they will rot from the inside out!" - Zhong Lihe "For a loser like me, there's no such thing as ideals or hopes." - Weng Chao The Fragrance of Civilization Wu Zhuoliu∣Yang Shouyu∣Zhu Dianren∣Wang Shilang Where is the Superman Lai He∣Cai Qiutong∣Zhang Wenhuan∣Yang Kui The Setbacks of Romance Liu Naou∣Long Yingzong The Man of Shame Lu Heruo∣Zhong Lihe∣ Two fairy tales by Ye Shitao

2019-02-27

INK印刻出版公司

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