"The House of Dust: A Symphony" by Conrad Aiken is a modernist poetic work that explores themes of love, loss, and the transitory nature of life. Published in 1920, Aiken's "The House of Dust" is considered one of the pioneering examples of American modernist poetry. The poem is structured as a symphony, consisting of four movements, each exploring different aspects of the human experience. Aiken employs vivid and often surreal imagery to convey the complexities of emotions and the human psyche. The overarching metaphor of the "House of Dust" suggests the impermanence and fragility of existence. Throughout the symphony, readers may encounter a series of fragmented and abstract images that contribute to the overall impressionistic quality of the work. Aiken's language is characterized by its musicality and rhythm, reflecting the influence of modernist trends in literature during the early 20th century. "The House of Dust" is celebrated for its innovative use of language, form, and symbolism. It invites readers to engage with its evocative verses, challenging them to interpret and derive meaning from the interplay of images and themes. Immerse yourself in the complex and atmospheric world of Conrad Aiken's "The House of Dust" for a unique and thought-provoking poetic experience.

The Sung Dynasty (960–1278) was a time of vast changes and new challenges in China. The growth of the urban and rural economics, population increase, the emergence of an educated elite, political and intellectual ferment, and threats from hostile neighbors are some of the forces that shaped the age. How did Sung statesmen and thinkers view the relation of state and society and the role of political action in solving society’s ills? The essays in Ordering the World explore contemporary ideas underlying policies, programs, and institutions of the period and examine attitudes toward history and sources of authority. Their findings have important implications for our understanding of the neo-Confucian movement in Sung history and of the Sung in the history of Chinese ideas about politics and social action. Contents: Introduction by Conrad Schirokauer and Robert P. Hymes “Su Hsun’s Pragmatic Statecraft,” by George Hatch “State Power and Economic Activism during the New Policies, 1068–1085,” by Paul J. Smith “Government, Society, and State,” by Peter K. Bol “Chu Hsi’s Sense of History,” by Conrad Schirokauer “Community and Welfare,” by Richard von Glahn “Charitable Estates as an Aspect of Statecraft in Southern Sung China,” by Linda Walton “Moral Duty and Self-Regulating Process in Southern Sung Views of Famine Relief,” by Robert P. Hymes “The Historian as Critic,” by John W. Chaffee “Wei Liao-weng’s Thwarted Statecraft,” by James T. C. Liu “Chen Te-hsiu and Statecraft,” by Wm. Theodore de Bary This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1993.