Fortress Besieged (Simplified Chinese: 围城; Traditional Chinese: 圍城; Pinyin: wéi chéng) is a comedy of manners written by Qian Zhongshu, published in 1947. Considered one of the masterpieces of twentieth century Chinese literature, Fortress Besieged is a humorous tale about middle-class Chinese society in the 1940s. It is also one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese novel in China, and it has been made into a popular television series during the early 90s. Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Pinyin (拼音, pÄ«nyÄ«n) literally means join (together) sounds (a less literal translation being phoneticize, spell or transcription) in Chinese and usually refers to HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n (汉语拼音, literal meaning: Han language pinyin), which is a system of romanization (phonetic notation and transliteration to roman script) for Standard Mandarin. ... The comedy of manners satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters, such as the miles gloriosus in ancient times, the fop and the rake during the Restoration, or an old person pretending to be young. ... Qian Zhongshu (November 21, 1910 – December 19, 1998) was a Chinese writer and scholar. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The title is based on a French proverb: A proverb (from the Latin proverbium) is a pithy saying which had gained credence through widespread or frequent use. ...

Marriage is like a fortress besieged: those who are outside want to get in, and those who are inside want to get out.

Set in the 1930s it follows the misadventures of Fang Hung-chien, a bumbling everyman who wastes his time studying abroad, and secures a fake degree when learning he has run out of money and must return home to China. The first part of the novel is set on the boat home, where he courts two young ladies. The novel is known for its acerbic asides, such as describing one young lady in the following way "at first, they called her 'Truth' because the truth is supposed to be naked. But then, they called her 'partial-truth'." A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ...

The second section follows his securing a teaching post at a new university - where his fake credentials are used to keep him in line, and in the third part, it centers on his disastrous marriage. The novel ends with his wife leaving him, while he listens to a clock chiming.