《儒林外史》是清人吴敬梓所著长篇小说,以写实主义描绘各类人士对于"功名富贵"的不同表现,一方面真实揭示人性被腐蚀的过程和原因,从而对当时吏治的腐败、科举的弊端、礼教的虚伪等进行了深刻的批判和嘲讽;一方面热情地歌颂了少数人物以坚持自我的方式所作的对于人性的守护,从而寄寓了作者的理想。该书代表着中国古代讽刺小说的高峰,开创了以小说直接评价现实生活的范例。 TheScholars,authoredbyWuJingzi,createsacapaciousandvividportrayalofthecommunitylifeofthefeudalsocietyandmirrorsvariousfilthyphenomenarampantduringthelaststageoffeudalism.Thebookoffersavividportrayalofthevariousabnormalpersonagesinthevanityfairofpositionandwealthanddelineatestheuglyperformancesofthescholars.Meanwhile,itembodiesthewriter'ssocialidealofrevitalizingancientritesandmusic,rejuvenatingthewaysoftheworldandpublicmoralityandsavingthenationfromperil.ItisrecognizedasoneofthegreatmasterpiecesofChinesesatiricalfiction.