Gaskell in China: A History of Translation and Critical Reception.

This article examines the reception of Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell in mainland China from 1916 to the present, highlighting how Chinese translations and scholarship have been shaped by shifting socio-political and cultural contexts. In Republican China, Gaskell’s works were translated primarily for cultural and literary modernization purposes, while in Maoist China, her novel *Mary Barton* was politically valued for its critique of capitalism and used to support socialist education. Since the late 1970s, Chinese Gaskell studies have expanded from Marxist interpretations to include feminist, postcolonial, and interdisciplinary approaches, reflecting broader intellectual liberalization and market influences. The article also identifies future research directions, such as translating more of Gaskell’s lesser-known works and exploring comparative studies between Gaskell and Chinese literature, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural perspectives in Victorian literary studies.