Battlefield Chronicles

Journey to a War

Auden's classic and unique wartime journal, a collection of poetry, prose, and photographs, documents his 1938 trip to China with his close friend Isherwood. Auden is a figure who transformed English-language literature in the 20th century. His achievements extend beyond his monumental works of poetry, drama, and criticism. The unique modernity imbued in his writings has had an incalculable and indelible impact on contemporary literature, profoundly inspiring countless writers. Among his works, "Warfare" stands out as a truly unique work.
Auden's complexity lies not only in the shifts in his intellectual trajectory but also in the richness of his life experiences. His frequent travels shaped his conflicted personality and profoundly altered his perspective on many issues. His 1938 trip to China was an essential part of this journey. This time, he was accompanied by his close friend and partner, the British writer Isherwood. The two had already co-authored three poetic plays, and now, working on their fourth book, they crisscrossed China, visiting Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hankou, Shanghai, and the Yellow River War Zone. They interviewed numerous important historical figures and left behind a wealth of valuable firsthand information. This book, published in 1939, is a collection of wartime diaries, combining poetry, prose, and photographs. It was on the eve of the outbreak of the European War. The book was widely popular for its detailed information, humorous and moving writing style and firm anti-fascist stance. It has extremely high historical and literary value. Among them, the 27 sonnets written by Auden are praised as "the most profound and innovative chapters in Auden's poetry in the 1930s, and arguably one of the greatest English poems of this decade."

2023-09-01

上海译文出版社

400

9787532792849