''Mr Ma and Son'' (

simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one, that is simpler (usually shorter), for example * Simplification of algebraic expressions, ...

: 二马;

traditional Chinese A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

: 二馬;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...

: Ėrmǎ; literally: "The Two Mas" or "Ma and Son") is a

satirical Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming or e ...

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

written by

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

author

Lao She Shu Qingchun (3 February 189924 August 1966), known by his pen name Lao She, was a Chinese novelist and dramatist. He was one of the most significant figures of 20th-century Chinese literature, and is best known for his novel ''Rickshaw Boy'' a ...

, first serialized in 1929 in the journal ''

Fiction Monthly The ''Fiction Monthly'' ( ''Xiaoshuo Yuebao''; Original English title: ''The Short Story Magazine'') was a Chinese literary journal published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai. First published in July 1910, its original editors were Yun Tieqiao ...

''. Lao She's third novel, it tells of the experiences of a Chinese father and his son in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

after taking over the

antique shop An antique shop (or antiques shop) is a retail store specializing in the selling of antiques. Antiques shops can be located either locally or, with the advent of the Internet, found online. An antiques shop can also be located within an anti ...

of his newly deceased brother.

Plot

The novel is divided into five parts. It chronicles the experiences of a Chinese widower, Ma Zeren (

: 马则仁;

：馬則仁), usually referred to in the text as Mr Ma, and his son Ma Wei (

: 马威;

: 馬威), as they journey to

to take over an antique shop left by Mr Ma's deceased brother, located near

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

. They are recommended as lodgers to an English landlady, Mrs Wedderburn, by Mr Ma's English clergyman, Reverend Ely. In the course of the novel, Mr Ma and his son face anti-Chinese

racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

of all kinds, while Mr Ma falls in love with Mrs Wedderburn and Ma Wei falls for Mrs Wedderburn's daughter, Mary. The novel is an acerbic

satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

revealing both the West's prejudice against the Chinese and China's "failure to stand up for itself in the world", according to academic Julia Lovell.Lao She, ''Mr Ma and Son''. translated by William Dolby and introduced by Julia Lovell. Penguin Modern Classics, Penguin Books, 2013, p. xi

Characters

*Ma Zeren (

: 马则仁;

：馬則仁) *Ma Wei (simplified Chinese: 马威; traditional Chinese: 馬威) *Li Zirong (simplified Chinese: 李子荣; traditional Chinese: 李子榮) *Reverend Ely (simplified Chinese: 伊牧师; traditional Chinese: 伊牧師) *Mrs Wedderburn (simplified Chinese: 温都太太; traditional Chinese: 溫都太太) *Mary Wedderburn (simplified Chinese: 玛力; traditional Chinese: 瑪力) *Catherine Ely (simplified Chinese: 凯萨林; traditional Chinese: 凱薩林)

References

1929 novels Chinese Republican era novels Novels by Lao She 20th-century Chinese novels {{1920s-satirical-novel-stub