A reprint from 2007, this very detailed volume recounts the history of contemporary Chinese literature from 1949 to 1999, with a focus on the discourse of socialism and Mainland China. Hong (contemporary Chinese literature, Peking U., China) describes literary fiction, poetry, drama, and prose writing, and how literary norms in these genres became dominant and then were superceded. He discusses the characteristics of works, models, and concepts, and the development of literary forms in works by Lao She, Hao Ran, Mu Dan, Hu Feng, and Zhou Yang, among many others, including Mao Zedong, with a separate chapter on women writers. The book was translated by Michael Day, who adds a bibliography, glossary, and index, and translates commonly used terms into English. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)