《林公案》文体之辨

The Stylistic Distinction of The Legal Case of Lin Zexu

《林公案》是记叙林则徐的晚清小说。此书虽名为“公案”,也常与其他公案小说合集出版,但其写法独特,与当时流行的侠义公案文学有很大区别。清代侠义公案小说作品众多,以塑造侠客义士为重点,情节多离奇曲折。《林公案》则颠覆了这种写作模式,林则徐不是线索人物,而是实际主人公,书中没有塑造众多的侠客形象,也不以侠客义士为中心展开情节,而是真实描写了林则徐的为官事迹,特别是他在水利、漕务和禁烟上的贡献,表现了林则徐的民本主义思想和爱国主义精神。《林公案》的创新写法和纪实性使其成为清代侠义公案小说的一种变体,应归类为历史演义小说。

The Legal Case of Lin Zexu is a novel about Lin Zexu in late Qing dynasty.Although the title suggests it is a“Legal Case”,and it is often published in collections with other legal case stories,its writing is unique,which is very different from the popular chivalrous legal case literature at that time.There are many works of chivalrous legal case novels in the Qing Dynasty,focusing on shaping chivalrous and righteous people,and the plot is bizarre and twisty.The Legal Case of Lin Zexu subverts this mode of writing.Lin Zexu is not a clue character,but the actual protagonist.The book does not create many images of knights,nor does it focus on chivalry and righteousness,but truly describes Lin Zexu’s official deeds,especially his contributions to water conservancy,canal transport affairs and smoking ban,showing Lin Zexu’s people-oriented thinking and patriotic spirit.Its innovative writing style and documentary nature make it a variant of the Qing Dynasty chivalrous legal case stories,which should be classified as a historical romance novel.