A study of the modern Chinese novel, Gao Yubao and its author Gao Yubao

• Main Author: Kleemeier, Christine Jeannette
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22772

Gao Yubao, a soldier in the Chinese People's Liberation Army, was nearly illiterate when he began to write his autobiographical novel, Gao Yubao, in 1949. The PLA's literary branch helped him finish the novel and after its publication Gao and his struggle to become literate by writing a novel served as an inspiration for others striving for education. Gao Yubao was republished several times up until as late as the 1970's and each time it was republished it was revised. This paper traces the history of the novel Gao Yubao and its author with special attention being given to comparing the changes made in the various editions of the novel. The conflicts between amateurism and professionalism and between fact and romanticization and those conflicts inherent in the constant revisings demanded of an already revised work are shown to be unresolvable because of the nature of contemporary Chinese literature. === Arts, Faculty of === Asian Studies, Department of === Graduate