The Romance Narrative of A Lifelong Journey and Liang Xiaosheng’s “Worldliness” Turn

Abstract

Liang Xiaosheng’s A Lifelong Journey depicts a panoramic picture of Chinese society and the changes it undergoes through the times. The novel unfolds around the life stories of the Zhou family, articulates the relationships among people, society and times, and presents the toughness and tenacity of ordinary people in the face of reality. The novel develops its storyline around the romance narratives of the three siblings of the Zhou family. The realistic demands, value positions, ideal forms, and spiritual trends presented in the process of romance narration echo the development of social mentality over the past 50 years of social reform and changes in China, depicting a picture of social life since then.

Keywords

A Lifelong Journey, romance narrative, worldliness

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