杨绛：《我们仨》
|
Yang Jiang and "We Three" 钱钟书、杨绛夫妇在学界德高望重，《围城》、《洗澡》两部书更令他们声名远播。然而，人们对其家庭生活却不甚了解。1998年钱先生的逝世使文化界深感悲痛。
We Three tells Yang Jiang’s family story. The book is written in a unique style. In the first two parts, the author describes an extremely long dream. The scene of final separation is depicted naturally here. However, the seemingly calm narration cannot hide the author’s immense inner pain. Life is just like a dream. That’s what Yang Jiang tells us after experiencing such a dramatic life. The book records their over 60 years’ family life, which was, from time to time, struck by poverty, political oppression and even vilification from some green-eyed people. For many readers, Qian Zhongshu and Yang Jiang are known as a couple that represents the great achievements of modern Chinese literature. Their daughter, Qian Yuan, was less well known. This book just provides an interesting look into their lives. It reveals many real and detailed aspects of their life. According to He Yan, a reader of this book and also a senior of Shanghai International Studies University, what attracts her most as regards to this book is the quality of realism. “The description is quite detailed and the story is vividly presented. I can imagine their simple but happy days when studying abroad and hardships they went through and I can almost feel their heartbreaking sorrow when they saw that they were being separated by death.”
Indeed, there is a gentle sadness throughout the book. Through Yang Jiang’s recall of the past 60 years’ life of them three, we saw a picture of the whole family helping and comforting one another under any difficult circumstance. Here, let’s taste the dreamlike beginning of We Three again. One night, I made a dream. I took a walk with Zhongshu. We chatted all way along, finally even at a loss where we’d been to. The sun was set. Dusk was gathering, stretching far into the distance. Suddenly, Zhongshu disappeared. I looked for him all around, but there was no trace of him. I shouted, nobody answered me. I was left in the desolate outskirts alone, without knowing where Zhongshu had gone. I cried out his name, his full name. The shout was swallowed by the wilderness, even no sound was echoed. The thorough silence added to the shades of night and also my loneliness. Looking forward, the darkness was getting thicker. A sandy soil road was under my feet with the accompany of woods and flowing water. I cannot tell how broad the stream was. Looking back, it seemed that there were many houses located there. However, no sign of light was seen, I guess, it must be far away… |
First published in July last year, We Three has been widely praised by literary critics and ordinary readers alike. The author Yang Jiang is a famous writer, critic, translator and scholar. Her husband, Qian Zhongshu, is also an influential scholar, who is well known for his novel the ‘Besieged City’. Apparently Yang Jiang wrote the book to fulfill the last wish of their cherished daughter, Qian Yuan, who died of cancer in 1997, even one year earlier than her father.
According to Luo Ping, Professor of English Language and Literature Department at Shanghai International Studies University, the book is a fascinating look into Yang Jiang’s life. “We not only enjoy her simple and plain narration, which, however, radiates strong emotions, but also appreciate her mode of thinking and attitudes towards life.”
