Eco-criticism Reading of San Mao’s The Story in the Sahara

Abstract

San Mao is a Taiwanese female writer, often recognized as one with the most legendary and charismatic charm in the eyes of readers in mainland China since the 1980s. She is also a travel writer. Her well-known book, The Story in the Sahara, is a collection of excellent prose on the background of the Sahara Desert in northern Africa. The book is full of the desolate, unpretentious landscape of the Sahara Desert, the strange exoticism of the Arab region, the rich and varied customs of the Saharawi, and the romantic and simple life and deep love between San Mao and Jose. This article intends to analyze this book with a new perspective--Eco-criticism. Through the Eco-criticism analysis of San Mao’s The Story in the Sahara, the study focuses on San Mao’s pursuit of spiritual freedom and the romantic life. Hopefully, the elaborate analysis can inspire readers’ understanding of the importance of the balance and harmony between nature, society and spiritual ecology, as well as the importance of building a harmonious society and maintaining a healthy spiritual ecology among humans.