SHORT STORIES

In total, Zhang Wei has published over one hundred and thirty short stories. This places him among the most prolific short story writers on the Chinese Mainland. I-Es short stories have won over twenty top national literary prizes and other literary awards. Virtually all important Chinese literary anthologies will include a selection from Zhang Wei's short stories. Since the short story is the genre which most rapidly reflects the mood of an age, readers can find from Zhang Wei's writing characteristic pieces echoing China's social changes. The styles of his short stories appropriately mirror such changes, clear and elegant in the early stage but somber and heavy in later period.

Zhang Wei's essays have consistently given rise to vigorous response on the Chinese Mainland. His "Melting into the Untamed Ground," "Your Tree," "Shame and Sensitivity," and "Nocturnal Thoughts" have been repeatedly cited, republished and selected for various kinds of anthologies. There were so many readers who enjoyed reading these essays that from 1995 to 1996 Zhang Wei's collected essays were published by twenty publishing houses, and over fifty publishers have selected his work for anthologies. Most of his collections have also been on the literary best-seller lists.

These essays speak directly from the heart of the author with sincerity and earnestness. They deal with sensitive topics which others have difficulty articulating. Seeking beauty obsessively, and being imbued with a passionate humanism, these are where their attraction lies.