A wider and stranger space : world literature and world-building in Xue Yiwei's fiction
Abstract
Through references to Xue Yiwei’s (1964–) emigration to Canada, the translation of his works into English, and his repeated discussion of Western authors, the majority of critics have emphasized Xue’s global outlook. However, to date, there has been relatively little discussion of the ways in which his engagement with the world has shaped his writing. This article considers how Xue Yiwei attempts to “transcend the boundaries of language” and create what he calls a “wider and stranger space for literature” against the background of a historically fraught relationship between Chinese and World literature. What does this space look like? Where can we locate it in relation to China and in relation to the world? How does Xue attempt to shape this space through his writing? This article considers these questions from three angles: Xue’s repeated use of explicit intertextuality, the multilingual and polyphonic nature of his writing, and the way in which his books have circulated beyond China. Despite continuing unevenness in the global literary field, this article argues for points of creative agency in Xue Yiwei’s attempt to “dialogue with the world.”
Citation
Hunt , P 2024 , ' A wider and stranger space : world literature and world-building in Xue Yiwei's fiction ' , Modern Chinese Literature and Culture , vol. 35 , no. 2 , pp. 293-321 . https://doi.org/10.3366/mclc.2023.0038
Publication
Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1520-9857Type
Journal article
Collections
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.