Xu Zhimo: Selected Poems

CONTAINS ENGLISH AND CHINESE TEXTS OF XU'S POEMS

The first English edition of poems by China's foremost modern poet Xu Zhimo, who studied in Cambridge in the early 20th Century. Whilst here he became enchanted by the Romantic poets such as Keats and Shelley; this form of poetry was to infuse his work from that point on, inspiring him to break through traditional Chinese poetic reserve and constraints and changing the medium forever. His poetry is revered by young and old alike in China, but especially amongst the teenagers and young adults.

One of the most renowned romantic poets of 20th-century Chinese literature, Xu Zhimo is known for his promotion of modern Chinese poetry and making great contributions to modern Chinese literature.

This selection contains some of his most famous and well-loved works including By Chance, You Are in His Eyes, For Whom, The Weak Flame of a Star, A Pipa Tune in an Alley at Midnight and the seminal Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again.

FEATURES XU'S TRANSLATIONS OF HIS FAVOURITE ENGLISH POEMS

Xu Zhimo was an early 20th-century Chinese poet who sought to promote a modern Chinese poetry that broke with convention and followed Western forms, especially the style of the Romantic and Symbolist poets, with whose work he fell in love while studying at King’s College, Cambridge in 1922.