Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.4, 2024

 

Micro-History and Its Presentation: On Ge Liang’s Prose

(Abstract)

 

Xiong Hui

 

Ge Liang, a highly skilled young writer, has garnered significant academic attention for his novels, yet his works of prose have often been largely overlooked. Overall, Ge Liang’s prose is not only highly accomplished, but also exhibits its own distinctive characteristics. First, his prose primarily focuses on ordinary people and “human nature,” subjects which serve as vehicles for Ge to express his historical views. Second, while the themes of his prose vary, they revolve mainly around the concept of microhistory, with the author believing that the daily lives and details of ordinary people best reflect true history. Third, his prose is marked by distinctive features, including refined language, unique thought processes, and the use of dialect.