Shen, Fu (1763-ca. 1808) "wrote one of the best known descriptions of everyday life during the Ch'ing Dynasty, entitled Six Records of a Floating Life. In this text, Shen Fu describes the gentle personality of his wife, Chen Yun, and his love for her. He also chronicles the rejection of Chen Yun by his parents and her untimely death. Shen Fu was a government clerk, a "yamen" private secretary. More broadly, he also seems to have been a painter and an occasional trader or businessman, although he failed at these attempts" (Wikipedia).

Six Records of a Floating Life

Shen, Fu; Pratt, Leonard, and Chiang, Su-hui, translators

Penguin

1983

2007.066.464