Wang Wen-hsing is one of the most distinguished writers in contemporary Taiwan. His two novels, Family Catastrophe and Backed Against the Sea, embody some quintessential elements of modernist aesthetics. Dimensions of narrative language, especially its psycho-acoustic effects and symbolic potentialities, are explored to the fullest extent therein. Probing the dark recesses of family ethics and exposing the limits of human dignity, these works pose serious challenges to Taiwan’s conservative and conformist dominant culture formed in the martial-law period. Wang’s relentless endeavors to build a distinctive model of literary creation has earned him enormous reverence in academic circles. Further testimonials of his exceptional achievement include two prestigious awards, the Taiwan’s National Award for Arts in Literature (2009) and the French Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (2011).——Sung-Sheng Yvonne Chang

READINGS

3 PAGES OF EXCERPT FROM MAN WITH CLIPPED WINGS

《剪翼史》


FAMILY CATASTROPHE (CH. 83)



(The following recording is provided through the courtesy of Professor Peng Yi and taken from his project
"Gramophone: The Prosody of Modernity, the Case of Wang Wen-Hsing" sponsored by the National Science Council [Ministry of Science and Technology])


BACKED AGAINST THE SEA VOL. 2 (PP. 362 - 364)


(The following recording is provided through the courtesy Professor Peng Yi and taken from his project
"Gramophone: The Prosody of Modernity, the Case of Wang Wen-Hsing" sponsored by the National Science Council [Ministry of Science and Technology])


ONLINE READINGS

VIDEOS









《新舊十二文》(2019)

《新舊十二文》 洪範書局(2019年)ISBN:9789576743542
Man with Clipped Wings 剪翼史(2016)

Man with Clipped Wings Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore, 2016
Mathematics and Poetry’s Equal Elegance: A Reader of Wang Wen-hsing in the New Century 《原來數學和詩歌一樣優美――王文興新世紀讀本》(2013)

Mathematics and Poetry’s Equal Elegance: A Reader of Wang Wen-hsing in the New Century Edited by Kang Lai-hsin, taken from Slow Readi...
NTU Lectures on the Intellectual and Spiritual Pilgrimage, Vol.6《我的學思歷程6》(2012)

NTU Lectures on the Intellectual and Spiritual Pilgrimage, Vol.6 Taipei: National Taiwan University Press , 2012 收錄王文興〈解文學魔力以慢讀〉
Nine Lectures on The Doll's House 《玩具屋九講》(2011)

Nine lectures on The Doll’s House Taipei: Rye Field Publications, 2011 本書為「王文興慢讀講堂」之一,內容為作者於課堂「小說探微」的授課記錄,由林國卿筆記整理。該課程為作者開設於臺灣大學...
Wang Wen-Hsing’s Manuscripts: Family Catastrophe, Backed against the Sea《王文興手稿集(套書)》(2010)

  Wang Wen-Hsing’s Manuscripts: Family Catastrophe, Backed against the Sea Taipei: Flaneur Culture Lab , 2010 套書內容: 《家變》手稿集 ...
Six lectures on Family Catastrophe 《家變六講:寫作過程回顧》(2009)

Six Lectures on Family Catastrophe Taipei: Rye Field Publications, 2009 本書為「王文興慢讀講堂」之一,內容為作者2007年受邀於中央大學「《家變》逐頁六講」研讀班的講演記錄。全書收錄〈第...
Selected Novellas in the Year Ninety-Five 《九十五年小說選》(2006)

Selected Novellas in the Year Ninety-Five Taipei: Chiu Ko Publishing Co., Ltd , 2006 郝譽翔編 收錄王文興〈明月夜〉
Random Thoughts from Star-Rain Tower《星雨樓隨想》(2003)

Random Thoughts from Star-Rain Tower Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore , 2003 本書為作者發表於1970~1999年的散文作品,以手記形式表現,內容包含對世間物象的觀察、神學的思辨、藝術美學的感知,...
Beyond Fiction 《小說墨餘》(2002)

Beyond Fiction Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore, 2002 本書為散文、詩與劇本之合集,分三部分,主要為作者談論東﹑西方文學與電影的創作,為文深入淺出、情感真摯。除此之外,亦結集自傳性散文、書信、畫平與獨幕劇劇本。 (...
Backed Against the Sea Vol. 2《背海的人【下】》(1999)

  Backed Against the Sea  Vol.1 &  Vol.2 Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore, 1999 長篇小說。本書分上、下兩冊,為作者費時24年之作,以「爺」的兩夜獨白進行敘述。「爺」字大陸遷臺,為...
Writings for Young Friends《寫給青年朋友》(1998)

Writings for Young Friends Taipei: Cheng Chung Book, 1998
Midsummer on the Prairie 《草原底盛夏》(1996)

Midsummer on the Prairie Taipei:Hongfan Bookstore, 1996 短篇小說集。本書為作者發表於《現代文學》第2~8期,創作手法轉向詩化語言的作品。全書收錄〈最快樂的事〉、〈母親〉、〈草原底盛夏〉、〈大地之歌〉、〈...
Books and Films 《書和影》(1988)

Books and Films Taipei: Unitas Publishing Co., 1988 其他版本:Taipei: Unitas Publishing Co., 2006 本書為散文、詩與文學對談之合集,分「書」、「影」、「其他」三部分,...
Backed Against the Sea Vol.1《背海的人【上】》 (1981)

Backed Against the Sea Vol.1 Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore, 1981 長篇小說《背海的人》,是王文興所撰之第二部長篇小說,殫精極思,通過現代寓言的形式,以一個人的挫折遭遇和困頓突破,反映人性和社會的根本...
Fifteen Short Stories 《十五篇小說》(1979)

Fifteen Short Stories  Taipei: Hongfan Bookstore, 1979 短篇小說集。本書集結《玩具手鎗》與《龍天樓》作品,並修改其中的文字與標點符號。全書收錄〈玩具手鎗〉、〈最快樂的事〉、〈母親〉、〈草原底盛夏〉、〈大地...
Family Catastrophe 《家變》(1973)

Family Catastrophe Taipei: Huanyu Publisher, 1973 長篇小說。本書為作者耗時七年之作,藉主角范曄對自我成長的回溯,描寫生命個體與其起點——家的關係。小說自范曄的父親出走開場,接以范曄成年前、後兩條脈絡...
The Toy Revolver 《玩具手鎗》(1970)

The Toy Revolver  Taipei: Zhiwen Publisher, 1970 本書為小說與散文合集。全書分兩部分,「小說」收錄〈玩具手鎗〉、〈最快樂的事〉、〈母親〉、〈草原底盛夏〉、〈大地之歌〉、〈大風〉、〈日曆〉、〈兩婦人〉、〈踐約〉共...
New Stone Statue 《新刻的石像》(1968)

New Stone Statue 王文興主編,收錄〈黑衣〉 Taipei: Xianrenzhang Publisher, 1968 其他版本:  Taipei: Dalin Publisher, 1973
Dragon Inn《龍天樓》(1967)

Dragon Inn Taipei: Wenxing Publisher, 1967 「龍天樓」是王文興幾年來比較大規模的製作。在他的小說裏,總充塞著一種特別懾人的氣氛;似有一根貫穿全文的線,把一個孩童的歸途和一夥軍人的變遷牽在一起,把一個漁港舞獅人的倔強和一個初中學生...

TRANSLATIONS





ABOUT

Wang Wen-hsing Digital Archive, funded by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, is constructed by the digital team at the National Chung Hsing University. The archive presents Wang Wen-hsing's life and literature development with the technique of Timeline JS and contains detailed foreign translations and related research sources, showing the panorama of Wang Wen-hsing's works and international influences.

In the timeline, readers can see significant events and bibliography of Wang Wen-hsing's published works detailed in chronological order with photographs. Images of manuscripts are given directly by Wang Wen-hsing. Readers may observe the evolution of Wang Wen-hsing's artistic creation. Collections of videos and interviews display Wang Wen-hsing's ideas and philosophy. The archive is translated into English for international readers' convenience. We welcome you to share Wang Wen-hsing Digital Archive.

We would like to express gratitude to the writer Wang Wen-hsing for authorizing and providing exclusive materials to enrich this archive. Special thanks go to Ms. Chen Chu-yun (Wang Wen-hsing's wife), Professor Yi Peng and Dr. Hung San-hui of the National Central University, the National Culture and Arts Foundation, the National Taiwan University Press, the National Taiwan University Library, Fisfisa Media, illustrator Leo Li, photographer Liu Chen-hsiang, Fran Lee the English translator of this website. The digital team at NCHU includes Chiu Kuei-fen, Chen Yuyi, Wu Minglun, Tsai Yilin, Hong Chienmei, and Huang Changhui, and graduate students Tseng Shihhsiang and Chang Fangyu of the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Literature and Transnational Cultural Studies of the National Chung Hsing University.

All ownership rights, copyright and intellectual property in the materials on this website, including the content, words, sounds, and images, belong to or have been legally approved for use by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature (NMTL). Those seeking to download, copy, change, distribute, publicly release or use the material in any other way must first acquire the consent of NMTL. NMTL reserves all legal rights for unauthorized use.