Author's Biography

Author's Biography

Pu Songling of Zichuan, courtesy name Liuxian, literary name Liuquan, was selected as a tribute scholar in the xinmao year. He was renowned in his time for his literary accomplishments and moral integrity. At the age of twenty, he passed the county-level examination and won the esteem of Shi Yushan, his literary fame spreading far and wide. Yet he resolutely turned away from the path of official advancement, devoting himself entirely to the study of classical prose, pouring his grief and indignation into his writing and forging a distinctive style of his own. By nature, he was simple and honest, deeply devoted to his friendships, and held honor and principle in the highest regard. Together with fellow townspeople Li Ximei, Zhang Liyou, and other celebrated scholars, he formed a poetry society, where they sharpened one another's minds through refined literary discourse and moral counsel. Wang Yuyang of Xincheng had long marveled at his talent, declaring that he was no ordinary man to be ranked among the common crowd. His household possessed a rich collection of writings, and among them, the *Strange Tales from Liaozhai* was the most widely read and celebrated.