This book is based on my doctorate research in Cambridge University
from 2004 to 2007. I thank Susan Daruvala, the most helpful supervisor
one can ask for. She was inspiring, informative, caring, and dedicated over
marvellous tea and coffee, tutorials, and supervision. Special thanks also
to my thesis adviser, Julia Lovell, generous with her guidance, intellectual
challenges, and English humour. Without my excellent teachers, this book
would not have taken the shape it has.
Tremendous thanks to Yang Lian for setting aside one whole day for
my interview, and for keeping in contact ever since. Deep appreciation to
Richard Burns who guided me in academic writing, and even
acknowledging us as “brothers in poetry.” John Dawson of the Cambridge
Literary and Linguistic Computing Centre inspired my statistical approach
and supported me patiently with his specialist software on his Mac. I also
appreciate Ian Roberts and Yuan Boping’s expert advice and informative
linguistic seminars.
My gratitude to Maghiel van Crevel for his informative interview and
for allowing me free access to his exciting collection of materials on
modern Chinese poetry. Thanks also to Wolfgang Kubin who assisted me
with research materials at Bonn, and Song Lin and Yang Xie who agreed
to be interviewed. Ang Boon Peng, Hong Wee Seng, Chan Cheow Thia,
Ng Kwang Cheng, Iris Lin, Tan Chin Guan, and Hong Xinyi helped me to
collect materials and information in different parts of the world—I cannot
forget their kindness.
I am indebted to the National Institute of Education, Singapore, for
supporting me financially throughout my research, and to Chan Chiu Ming
for his professional advice and support. St John’s College also provided
generous childcare and travel grants to ease my financial burden, and I
thank my tutor Matthias Dörrzapf for that. Both my Masters supervisors,
Quah Sy Ren and Gilbert Yeoh, gave me marvellous recommendations
and shared their invaluable research experiences—I can only thank them
wholeheartedly. During my undergraduate studies in National Taiwan
Normal University in the early 1990s, Pan Li Chu and Cheng Ming Lee,
with their scholarly demeanour and encouraging guidance, were the first to
inspire me to pursue further studies. Their emotional support and academic
references are deeply appreciated.