*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

With Love & Irony

I can't believe it has taken me this long to discover the writings of Lin Yutang.

Born in China's Fujian province in 1895, he was one of the earliest Chinese intellectuals to write in English. Written in simple everyday English, his prose is charming, humorous and witty, often taking a satirical stance on the political situation during his time.

The book I'm reading now, With Love & Irony, is a collection of his essays which were published in newspapers such as The New York Times. Even though the essays were published in the 1930s, many of the things he writes about still resonates very much with the world in its current state of affairs. His astute observations of life, from simple things like the Chinese people's fascination with birds to more profound topics like Sino-Japanese relations, the East-West divide and the political unrest in China, are always tinged with a touch of humour, even though a more serious message lies beneath. Absolutely brilliant.

Lin also lectured in English literature and often translated classic Chinese texts which has remained popular in the West till today. His most famous original works are My Country and My People and The Importance of Living. Definitely worth checking out I'm sure.