Overview

This book resolves around the fundamental question, “What is Hong Kong modernism?” To address this issue, C.T. Au identifies three significant characteristics: a renewal of traditions, an obsession with ordinary things, and an expression of concerns about social and political issues, shared among Western modernisms, Chinese modernism in the 1940s, and such Hong Kong modernists as Ma Lang, Liu Yichang, and Leung Ping-kwan (Yasi/Ye Si). This research concentrates on an examination of the major modernist tenets embodied in Leung’s literary works. Leung Ping-kwan is one of the most prominent and widely read Hong Kong modernist writers; however, there exist only a few scholarly works which focus on the direct relationship between Leung’s works and modernisms. The author argues that Leung paid special attention to issues regarding tradition, daily life, and colonial culture in order to understand his past, his identity, and the unique features of Hong Kong modernism, which celebrate multiple perspectives and inclusiveness. This study not only helps differentiate Hong Kong modernism from other modernisms—positioning the former as a variant of the latter—but also provides a response to the problems evoked by Hong Kong’s colonial milieu.

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9781793609373

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Reviews

“Why is the story of Hong Kong so difficult to tell?” This is certainly one of the most widely cited questions raised by Leung Ping-kwan. Through his creative as well as critical pursuits, the Hong Kong writer and scholar answered this so imaginatively and intelligently that his own story is also far from easy to tell. In The Hong Kong Modernism of Leung Ping-Kwan, the author provides a thorough guide to some of what has remained hidden about his work. Rich with compelling insights, this book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the late grandmaster of Hong Kong literature and culture. -- Yiu-Wai Chu, The University of Hong Kong “What is Hong Kong modernism?” This long-awaited book offers thought-provoking answers to this question, examined here through close readings of Leung Ping-kwan’s most important works. In her impressive The Hong Kong Modernism of Leung Ping-kwan, C. T. Au not only solves several riddles concerning Hong Kong’s literary enigmas, but also gives us fresh perspectives to approach Leung Ping-kwan related to issues such as identity, Chinese literary traditions, ordinary life, and translation. Overall, Au's reading of Leung is a remarkable contribution to many fields: Hong Kong modernist studies, world literature, comparative literature, and Chinese modernisms. Her book deserves a wide readership and I believe this book will be indispensable for teaching and research on Hong Kong literature and modernisms for years to come. -- Kwok Kou Leonard Chan

Why is the story of Hong Kong so difficult to tell? This is certainly one of the most widely cited questions raised by Leung Ping-kwan. Through his creative as well as critical pursuits, the Hong Kong writer and scholar answered this so imaginatively and intelligently that his own story is also far from easy to tell. In The Hong Kong Modernism of Leung Ping-Kwan, the author provides a thorough guide to some of what has remained hidden about his work. Rich with compelling insights, this book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the late grandmaster of Hong Kong literature and culture. -- Yiu-Wai Chu, The University of Hong Kong

Author Information

Au Chung To is assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong.

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