This collection of essays examines literary sociology, aiming to increase the reader's understanding of modern China, its literature and those who work in the field. The essays address the sociological background leading the the production and consumption of literary texts, not only shedding light on the meaning and structure of those texts, but also adding to our knowledge of the society in which they were produced and consumed. This is achieved by the application of a single methodology, that of Pierre Bourdieu.