Preface, Introduction, Remembrances of the Past Summary

Diary of a Madman and Other Stories is a book of Xun Lu's short stories. These stories take place in China in the early twentieth century and reflect Chinese culture and the norms of the day. The various plots show the relationships between various characters and how they deal with daily struggles and the politics of the day.

The Preface describes what Shaoxing looks like now and how different it was in Lu Xun's time, with so much political and social upheaval. This world helped to form Lu Xun's abilities and interests into powerful forces for change. The translator thanks those who have guided and encouraged him in the translating of Lu Xun's work.

The Introduction describes China's need to modernize like her neighbor Japan. Japan had recently won a war between Japan...