Shen Congwen 
Border Town 
Reading and Reviewing Books by Famous Families

One of the representative works of Shen Congwen, Border Town is a masterpiece conveying the rural sentiments in China’s literary history. Set in a border town named Chatong at the intersection of Sichuan and Hunan provinces in 1930s, the book features lyrics and essays detailing the local customs unique to the outskirts of western part of Hunan. Through the tragic love story of Cuicui, a granddaughter of a ferryman, the book highlights human kindness as well as clear hearts. The unique artistic charm and lively folk sentiments appeal to numerous readers, home and abroad, securing the book a special place in China’s contemporary literature history.