Zhang Ailing, a famous modern Chinese female writer, whose real name is Zhang Lang, was originally from Fengrun, Hebei Province, and was born on September 30, 1920 (1921) in a Western-style mansion built in the late Qing Dynasty at No. 313 Maigen Road, West District of the Shanghai Public Concession. Zhang Ailing's family background is prominent, her grandfather Zhang Peilun was a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and her grandmother Li Julian was the eldest daughter of Li Hongzhang, a heavy minister in the late Qing Dynasty. Her father Zhang Tingzhong is a typical widow, and her mother Huang Suqiong is a new woman who has stayed abroad.
Zhang Ailing's early life was quite bumpy, and after her parents divorced, she lived with her father. She studied at St. Mary's Girls' High School in Shanghai, but due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, the University of Hong Kong was closed, and Zhang Ailing failed to graduate. In 1942, she returned to Shanghai and began writing for English-language magazines such as The Times and 20th Century. In 1943, Zhang Ailing published the novel "Agarwood Crumbs: The First Incense" in "Violet", which made Zhang Ailing an instant hit in the Shanghai literary circle.
In 1944, Zhang Ailing met and dated the writer Hu Lancheng, but the marriage lasted only two years. In 1947, Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng divorced. After the liberation of Shanghai in 1949, Zhang Ailing published a novel in Shanghai's Yi Pao under the pseudonym Liang Jing. In 1950, Zhang Ailing participated in the first Shanghai Literary and Art Congress.
In 1952, Zhang Ailing left Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong, where she applied to the University of Hong Kong for permission to resume her studies. In 1955, Zhang Ailing left Hong Kong for the United States on the "President Cleveland". In 1956, she received a writing grant from Edward MacDowell Colony. In August of the same year, Zhang Ailing married 65-year-old Lai Ya and began to write the novels "Yangge" and "Love in the Red Land".
In 1960, Eileen Chang became a U.S. citizen. In 1967, Raiya died. On September 8, 1995, Eileen Chang's landlord found her dead in her apartment on Rochester Avenue in Westwood, California, at the age of 75, and the cause of death was arteriosclerosis cardiovascular disease.
Zhang Ailing's literary achievements are mainly reflected in her novel creation, her works transcend the era in which she lives, whether it is the selection of materials, ideas, or character building, narrative structure and language skills, all of which show personal characteristics and have made more outstanding achievements. Her novels, whether they transcend elegance or in-depth depictions of marginalized people, are unmatched by any other writer in the 40s of the 20th century. Zhang Ailing has contributed a number of literary masterpieces, created a new high of realistic novels, and has the value of coordinates in the history of Chinese novels.
Eileen Chang's life is full of legends, and her works and life experiences have always been the focus of literary research and public attention. Her creations not only occupy an important position in the history of modern Chinese literature, but also have a profound impact on the literary creation of later generations.
Zhang Ailing's family background is quite prominent. Her grandfather Zhang Peilun was a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and her grandmother Li Julian was the eldest daughter of Li Hongzhang, an important political figure in the late Qing Dynasty, which gave Zhang Ailing the so-called "aristocratic blood". Such a family background has provided her with rich materials and profound cultural heritage for her literary creation.
Zhang Ailing's father, Zhang Tingzhong, is a typical widow, that is, a descendant of the old aristocracy, while her mother, Huang Suqiong, is a new Western-educated woman who once studied abroad. Zhang Ailing's parents eventually divorced, which had a certain impact on her growth and psychology. After her parents divorced, Eileen Chang lived with her father, an experience that may also be reflected in some of her works.
Zhang Ailing's stepmother is Sun Yongfan, who is the daughter of Sun Baoqi, the former premier of the Republic of China government. Eileen Chang's relationship with her stepmother was not harmonious, which is reflected in some of her essays and novels.
Zhang Ailing's personal life is also quite bumpy, she had a marriage with the writer Hu Lancheng, but it ended in divorce. Later, Zhang Ailing married Lai Ya in the United States, but this marriage also ended with Lai Ya's death.
Eileen Chang's family circumstances and personal experiences have largely shaped her literary style and themes, and her works often explore family relationships, marital issues, and personal emotional entanglements.
Zhang Ailing is a highly influential writer in the history of modern Chinese literature, and her representative works mainly include:
1. "Legend": This is Eileen Chang's first collection of short stories, published in 1944, and includes a number of famous short stories, including "The Golden Lock", which show her unique literary style and profound characterization.
2. "Love in a Fallen City"**: This is a novella that tells a love story that takes place in the context of war, embodying Eileen Chang's deep insight into human nature and society.
3. "The Golden Lock": This novella shows the struggle of the little people under social and family pressures by describing the spiritual changes of the protagonist Cao Qiqiao.
4. "Red Rose and White Rose": This work explores the complexity of love and marriage through the emotional entanglement between the protagonist Tong Zhenbao and two women.
5. **"Half Life"**: Originally known as "Eighteen Spring", it is Zhang Ailing's first full-length novel, which has been rewritten and deleted some politically charged endings, reflecting the multifaceted nature of society and human nature.
6. "Little Reunion": Written in 1975 and not published until 2009, this novel is a late work of Eileen Chang, and it also shows her delicate depiction of the psychological and social relationships of her characters.
7. **"Agarwood"**: This work includes Zhang Ailing's prose and film plays that have not been officially published before, including "No Love" and "Long Live the Wife".
8. **"Rumors"**: This is a collection of Zhang Ailing's essays, published by Beijing October Literature and Art Publishing House in 2009, adding scattered works, and fully restoring the original appearance of Zhang Ailing's works.
Eileen Chang's works are known for their unique style, profound social insights, and exquisite psychological descriptions, and her novels and essays occupy an important place in the history of modern Chinese literature and have had a profound impact on later generations of literary creation.