A Scholar's Path

English translation and appreciation by Peter Chen and Michael Tan
Reviewed by Chan Chiu Ming

An original English translation from the Chinese text:
Comprises 60 poems (85 verses) and three prose compositionsOpens a window to the heart and mind of a Chinese scholar who lived from the late Qing through the 1950sReflects the life of a pioneer writer of Malayan-Singapore Chinese Literature: his personal tragedies, struggles, disappointments and the joy in his family, friends and his poetryEnglish explanations for many interesting expressions and allusions used in Chinese classical poetryEnables an English language reader to enjoy the rich and colourful heritage of Chinese culture and language
A companion edition of the book in Chinese is available — the original classical text translated into modern Chinese and profusely annotated by Associate Professor Dr Chan Chiu Ming of National Institute of Education, Singapore.
Contents:Familial LoveCare and ConcernFriendshipReflections
Readership: General readers, students, and teachers, as well as those who are interested in Malayan-Singapore literature.
Keywords:Pioneer Writer;Malayan-Singapore Literature;Chinese Classical PoetryReview:
“With every word and phrase explained in both English and Chinese, these sentiments are made to reflect different aspects of the era's social adaptations, political mutations and cultural affirmations … The final work, both in Chinese and English translation, is so thorough that it can serve as a valuable teaching text.”
Professor Wang Gungwu
East Asian Institute
National University of Singapore
0