High Life

品 16 #8 2017 年 5 月 HIGH LIFE #8 May 2017 17 毋 庸置疑，余华被公认为中国最重要和最受尊敬的当代作 家之一。很多研究过其作品的人都承认，在读他的小说 比如《活着》时，泪水会情不自禁地夺眶而出。《活着》讲述 主人公徐福贵，从地主少爷变成穷困佃农，一生经历了共产主 义革命和中国社会的变迁，目睹了至亲的一一离去。 对于余华以最生动和准确的方式以及直刺人心的文字来讲 述人类苦难的能力，文学评论家公开表示赞赏和钦佩。然而， 当我与这位中国文坛天才面对面时，却看到了一个有着异常幽 默感的人。与我所想象的那个悲凉和愤世嫉俗的形象相比，坐 在我面前的余华，平静，从容，面带微笑，显得轻松自在。 他衣着随性，脚穿一双时尚的白底黑色汤姆• 福特运动 鞋。寒暄之后，他坐了下来，我们开始谈起他在文化大革命时 期非同寻常的童年生活。 我评述道，“死亡是您作品中常常出现的元素，您的小说 场景有时非常血腥，暴力。您如何看待人生以及日常生活中人 们必须做出的挣扎？” T here is no doubt that Yu Hua is considered one of the most important and respected contemporary writers in China. Many who have studied his works confess it is indeed difficult to hold their tears back when reading a novel such as To Live , where the protagonist Xu Fugui goes from being a wealthy landowner’s son to a peasant, living through Communist Revolution and drastic changes in Chinese society while witnessing the deaths of those dearest to him. Literary critics overtly praise and admire Yu’s ability to describe human suffering in the most vivid and precise manner, with words that pierce the heart. Yet, when I finally meet the Chinese literary genius I discover someone with an exceptional sense of humor. In contrast to the sad and cynical individual I picture in my mind, the calm, unhurried and smiling Yu Hua sitting in front of me seems stress-free.