Description
Book SynopsisContemporary Chinese film and literature often draw on time-honoured fantastical texts and tales which were founded in the milieu of patriarchy, parental authority, heteronormativity, nationalism, and anthropocentrism. Cathy Yue Wang examines the processes by which modern authors and filmmakers reshape these traditional tales.
Trade ReviewIn
Snake Sisters and Ghost Daughters, Cathy Yue Wang dives into the rich repository of Chinese myths and legends and examines their adaptations in the modern and contemporary world through a feminist lens. Through extensive research and incisive reading, she makes available to the Western audience a dazzling array of Chinese sources, which are not cold gems frozen in the past but shifting dynamisms addressing current issues within and beyond China. Her critical mind and lyrical voice contribute to fairy-tale studies, genre fiction studies, and feminist scholarship in general and invite further explorations along the path she has paved for us." - Zhange Ni, associate professor of religion and literature, Virginia Tech
"Theoretically informed and skillfully written, this book deeply engages with a wide range of fantastic female figures in contemporary adaptations of traditional tales. Weaving cognitive narratology in close textual analyses to reveal dynamic communications between readers and writers, Wang makes excellent contributions to the interdisciplinary studies of Chinese fantasy." - Liang Luo, author of
The Global White Snake"
Snake Sisters and Ghost Daughters is as intriguing as its title. Having watched and waited for Chinese children’s literature scholarship to explode on the international stage, this book’s commitment to tracing adaptations of Chinese traditional stories is a welcome contribution to the ever-growing body of research in this area. It will prove useful to both the novice and the expert in children’s literature wishing to consider the rich tradition of Chinese literature and its entanglement with the fantasy genre." - Emily Murphy, senior lecturer in children’s literature, Newcastle University
