Prefaces to Shakespeare's four comedies

William shakespeare (William Shakespeare 1 564-1616) is the most outstanding poet and playwright in the history of English literature and drama, one of the most outstanding writers in the history of western literature and art, and one of the most outstanding playwrights in the world. His plays have been translated into almost all the languages in use in the world, and the status and influence of his works are comparable to that of the Bible. 2. The four comedies published this time are the four most representative works of Shakespeare's early comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night and All Are Happy. These four comedies are full of idealized lyrical and romantic styles, praising the innocence, love and friendship of human nature, and containing Shakespeare's beautiful ideal as a humanist and his prospect for the bright future of mankind. They are representative works of humanistic spirit in European Renaissance. 3. Shakespeare was the first foreign writer introduced to China in modern times, which had a far-reaching influence on China literature. Cao Yu, Tian Han, Guo Moruo, Lao She, Xiong Foxi, Yu Shangyuan and Bai Wei, the main founders of modern drama in China, are all deeply influenced by Shakespeare's plays.

The published version is the painstaking work of Zhu Shenghao, a great translator in China. Zhu Shenghao began to translate Shakespeare at the age of 24 until his death at the age of 32. He translated most of Shakespeare's works, * * *1.8000 words, 3 1 script. He gave his life for this immortal work. 4. Zhu Shenghao's Shakespeare translation was first published by the World Bookstore in 1947, which caused a sensation in Chinese and foreign literary circles. "The European and American literary circles were shocked, and many Shakespeare researchers couldn't believe that China people would write such a high-quality translation." (Professor Yu Erchang, an expert in Shakespeare studies at Taiwan Province Provincial University) Zhu Shenghao has always regarded "seeking the largest possible scope and maintaining the charm of the original" as the highest purpose of his translation.

Compared with Liang Shiqiu's translation which began in 1930s, Zhu's translation is more passionate and talented. "It is an indisputable fact that there is still no translation beyond Zhu Shenghao's translation. ..... (this translation) consumes the essence of his age from 22 to 32, full of talent, poetry, enthusiasm and blood! This is unmatched by any translation. " (Su Fuzhong translated Stories and Ink, published by Sanlian Bookstore) 5. On the basis of the Zhu Shenghao version of World Bookstore 1947, The Four Comedies of Shakespeare published this time strives to keep the perfect version of Zhu's translation, and at the same time, it has been edited and revised, especially some names and places have been revised according to the current interpretation to adapt to the reading habits of today's readers.