二十世紀前半葉的中國散文家當中，周作人（1885–1967）可謂首屈一指。他的文章至今仍然廣泛為人閱讀和研究，內容與風格皆有可觀之處，引人入勝。周氏對中國文化掌故的認識甚深，對歐洲和日本也很熟悉，對他來說，題材俯拾皆是，入文即情趣盎然。在派系傾軋的年代，他不隨流俗，不講主義，抱有自己獨特的見解；他裝的是迂夫子模樣，但背後堅定的價值觀念與強烈的感情，讀者卻不難領會。

譯者卜立德畢生研讀周作人，精選了二十九篇或長或短的散文，以展現周氏寫作的多面性：當中有他聞名的平和沖淡、閑適洒脫的隨筆小品，也有滑稽詼諧、抑鬱沮喪、以至慷慨激昂的篇章。

作者簡介：

David E. Pollard, the translator, publishes in Chinese as well as English and is one of the most respected interpreters and translators of the Chinese essay and modern Chinese literature. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 1970. He was formerly Professor of Chinese at the University of London and Professor of Translation at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Research Centre for Translation of the Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.