Between Tears and Laughter (Blue Ribbon Books, 1945)

Lin Yutang

Published by Blue Ribbon Books, Garden City, NY, 1945

About this Item

A wartime work of cultural and political reflection by Lin Yutang, written at the height of World War II. Blending philosophy, East-West comparative thought, and commentary on global conflict, Lin addresses the moral crises of modern civilization, the emergence of Asia, democracy, imperialism, and the intellectual's role in society. Chapters such as 'The Emergence of Asia,' 'Defense of the Mob,' and 'The Character of the Modern Age' reflect his distinctive style - urbane, humane, ironic, and deeply informed by both Confucian and Western traditions.

This 1945 Blue Ribbon Books reprint (Garden City, NY) follows the 1943 copyright and represents an early American wartime issue. Black cloth binding with gilt spine lettering; top edge stained red; fore and bottom edges deckled. No dust jacket present.

Condition: Very Good (no dust jacket). Binding firm and square with light to moderate rubbing at extremities and mild wear at spine ends, chip on spine bottom. Boards clean with minor surface scuffing. Gilt spine lettering remains legible. Interior pages are clean and unmarked with even age toning. Red top stain remains strong. An attractive and well-preserved copy.

Edition/Printing Notes: Copyright 1943; title page states 1945 Blue Ribbon Books, Garden City, New York. This is a Blue Ribbon reprint edition, not the John Day first edition.

Lin Yutang (1895-1976) was a Chinese writer, translator, linguist, and cultural commentator who became one of the most influential interpreters of Chinese civilization to Western audiences in the twentieth century. Educated in China, Harvard, and Leipzig, Lin wrote extensively in English and Chinese. His best-known works include My Country and My People and The Importance of Living. A three-time Nobel Prize nominee in Literature, he was celebrated for his wit, humanism, and ability to bridge Eastern and Western intellectual traditions.

Seller Inventory # NF.YUT.1945.1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Between Tears and Laughter (Blue Ribbon Books, 1945)
• Publisher: Blue Ribbon Books, Garden City, NY
• Publication Date: 1945
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • Non-Fiction
  • Philosophy