The prominent modern dramatist Cao Yu (24 September 1910– 13 December 1996) was born as Wan Jiabao in Tianjin to a family who had migrated from Qianjiang, Hubei Province. In 1933, the young dramatist established his fame in modern Chinese drama with his maiden work Thunderstorm. Following this blockbuster success, he proceeded to write several famous dramas such as Sunrise, Wilderness, and Peking Man. After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Cao served as the president of Beijing People’s Art Theater and remained a prolific writer. His other works include modern dramas such as Under a Bright Sky, historical dramas such as Courage and the Sword and Wang Zhaojun, essays such as those in The Collection of Winter Jasmine, and treatises such as Cao Yu on Creation. Some of his dramas have been included in A Collection of Cao Yu’s Dramas. Cao excelled at portraying the family life of Chinese feudalists and bourgeois intellectuals, which reflected an important aspect of Chinese society. His dramas always feature a distinctive style of language, roller-coaster plots, and vivid, complicated characters. Through these works, Cao has created a prominent school for Chinese drama and made significant contributions to its success.
