The Old Man of the Moon

Shen Fu's "The Old Man of the Moon" offers a deeply personal and poignant narrative of his marital journey, reflecting the early stages of passionate love through the hardships of financial strain and separation, set against the backdrop of 18th-century China. This heartfelt memoir vividly captures Shen Fu's unwavering affection for his wife, bringing to life their shared experiences and devotion.Penguin’s Little Black Classics series, introduced in celebration of the publisher’s 80th anniversary, includes this work among 80 titles that highlight the wide-ranging and diverse nature of Penguin Classics. These books transport readers to various corners of the globe and across different eras, offering a vast array of stories and perspectives—from a balloon ride over Victorian London to the serene beauty of a Japanese garden, and from the remote landscapes of Tierra del Fuego to Renaissance California and the expanse of the Russian steppe. Within this collection are tales both poetic and brutal, poems that span the epic to the deeply personal, essays that range from satirical to motivational, and groundbreaking ideas that have influenced countless lives.