author
Xun Lu
1881–1936
A sharp, fearless voice of modern Chinese literature, this influential writer used fiction and essays to challenge complacency and expose the pressures of his time. Best known for works like Diary of a Madman and The True Story of Ah Q, he remains widely read for his wit, urgency, and moral clarity.
7 Audiobooks
About the author
Born Zhou Shuren in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, Lu Xun became one of the most important Chinese writers of the early 20th century. He wrote fiction, essays, criticism, and translations, and is often described as a central figure in modern Chinese literature.
His work is closely linked with the cultural ferment of the May Fourth era, when many writers and thinkers were rethinking language, tradition, and national life. Lu Xun wrote in a direct, vivid style and became especially known for stories such as Diary of a Madman and The True Story of Ah Q, which mixed satire with deep social criticism.
Beyond his fiction, he was admired for his essays and for the force of his independent voice. He died in Shanghai in 1936, but his writing has continued to shape readers, students, and writers in China and far beyond.