林语堂传记创作的现代性诉求

Lin Yutang's Modernity Appeals as Expressed in His Biographical Writing

以小品散文、长篇小说写作著称的林语堂同时也是一位成绩斐然的传记文学作家。特别是在海外期间,林语堂用英文创作《苏东坡传》、《武则天传》两大历史传记,引起了海外读者的强烈反响。本文结合林语堂各个时期在传记方面的所为,并以海外时期传记创作为主体评述内容,试对他的传记创作思想进行总体归纳与评价。认为林语堂在追求传记文体形式、笔调改革以及人格意识三方面取得了突出的成就,具有鲜明的现代性取向。

Lin Yutang （ 1895 - 1976） is famous for his biographies as well as his essays and novels. His two historical biographies published in English during his stay outside China, The Gay Genius： The Life and Times of Su Tungpo （1947） and Lady Wu： A True Story （1957）, have provoked overseas readers＇ great interest. This paper, by reviewing Lin＇s achievements in biographical writing in different periods and singling out his biographical works during his overseas stay, attempts to summarize and evaluate his biographical theories. It argues that Lin＇ s outstanding achievements in biography, marked by his pursuit of new genres, advocacy of stylistic innovations and stress on personality consciousness, reveal a conspicuous orientation to modernity.