Theoretically well-informed and methodologically rigorous, this outstanding study of the works of Hu Feng and Lu Ling incorporates the insights brought out by existing works, and departs from them by offering insightful, new interpretations through delving into the larger issues of cultural politics and ideologies during the radical revolutionary era of the 1930s and 1940s in modern China. This significant contribution substantially develops the present scholarship and will contribute significantly to the scholarship on modern Chinese literature and culture studies. -- Liu Kang, Duke University Through analysis of the history and work of Hu Feng and his student Lu Ling, Xiaoping Wang presents a nuanced interpretation of both supportive and oppositional theories bedeviling literary intellectuals and authorities in twentieth century China. Two key concepts, individualism and subjectivity, anchor this rich study, which teases out the fascinating evolution of a modern Chinese literature complicated by a multifaceted history. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the complex history of the literary and intellectual field in modern China. -- Wendy Larson, University of Oregon
