Fortress Besieged by Qian Zhongshu
The novel revolves around the protagonist, Fang Hongjian, who returns to China after failing to complete his studies in Europe. He fakes a doctoral degree to secure a teaching position and navigates through a series of comedic yet poignant social and romantic entanglements. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1930s China, the story uses sharp wit and satire to explore the absurdities and complexities of traditional and modern Chinese society, as well as the human condition, through the lens of marriage, education, and familial expectations. The title metaphorically compares life and marriage to a fortress that is simultaneously under siege and difficult to escape from.
The 1622nd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1947
- Nationality
- Chinese
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 400-500
- Original Language
- Chinese
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.0)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Weicheng
- 围城
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 5 lists:
- 5th on 20 Best Chinese Fiction Books of the 20th Century (Time Out Beijing )
- 5th on 20th century 100 Best Chinese Fictions (Asia Weekly)
- 34th on 100 China Books You Have To Read (The China Project)
- Recommended Reading List for Students (China 2020) (Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China)
- The 100 Best Novels in Translation by Boyd Tonkin (Book)