Recognized as modern China's preeminent man of letters, Lu Xun (1881--1936) is revered as the nation's conscience, a writer comparable to Shakespeare or Tolstoy. Gloria Davies's vivid portrait gives readers a better sense of this influential author by situating the man Mao Zedong hailed as the sage of modern China in his turbulent time and place.
The book offers a critical exploration of contemporary Chinese intellectual thought, highlighting the significant role of intellectuals in shaping social life through knowledge production. Contributors engage with various perspectives, addressing the influence of Western theories and traditional Confucian ideas on modern discourse. It underscores the evolution of Chinese academia since 1979, illustrating how scholars have carved out an independent critical space in post-Mao China, reflecting their commitment to intellectual labor and its transformative potential.