THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO

A Historical Biographical Novel

Author: Chen Qingyang
Submission: Publishing Proposal for Literary Agents and Publishers in the United States and Canada
Genre: Historical Fiction / Literary Fiction / Political and Social History
Setting: Postwar Taiwan, particularly Taipei and the mountainous Lukou region
Central Themes: Political persecution, freedom of thought, historical memory, betrayal, courage, love, and survival

1. One-Sentence Story Premise

During Taiwan's early years of authoritarian rule, celebrated writer Lü Heruo becomes entangled in an underground political movement and is forced into a desperate struggle for survival, as government surveillance, betrayal, and a sweeping military crackdown destroy the lives of those who shelter him and expose the devastating human cost of political repression.

2. Story Synopsis

THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO is a historical biographical novel inspired by the life of Taiwanese writer Lü Heruo and the political turmoil surrounding the Lukou Base during the early postwar period in Taiwan.

The story unfolds during a turbulent chapter of Taiwan's modern history, when political suspicion, ideological conflict, and authoritarian control permeate everyday life. In the aftermath of World War II, Taiwan enters a period of profound political and social uncertainty. Intellectuals, writers, political activists, and ordinary citizens find themselves caught between competing political ideologies and an increasingly oppressive government.

At the center of the novel is Lü Heruo, a writer and intellectual whose commitment to social justice draws him into an underground political movement. As government surveillance intensifies, he becomes a target of the authorities. His association with underground activists and the Lukou Base places him in increasing danger, forcing him to confront the consequences of his political convictions.

The novel also follows the lives of the people around him, including Chen Benjiang, a central figure in the underground organization; He Yunxuan, a university lecturer who shares Lü Heruo's intellectual ideals; Chen Qiwang, a village leader whose personal experience of political violence fuels his resistance; and numerous villagers whose lives become entangled in the conflict.

Within the mountain community, the Lukou Base develops into a clandestine political network. Its members attempt to organize local supporters, establish channels of communication, and pursue their political objectives. Yet the organization is vulnerable from within. Personal rivalries, power struggles, ideological disagreements, and infiltration by government intelligence agents gradually undermine its unity.

One of the novel's central sources of tension is the infiltration of the organization by intelligence operatives. Dong Zhiqian, an undercover agent, becomes an instrument in the authorities' efforts to gather information and identify members of the underground network. His activities, together with the schemes of other officials and informants, contribute to a chain of suspicion, manipulation, and betrayal.

As the authorities tighten their surveillance, the danger spreads beyond the political activists themselves. The residents of Lukou Village become increasingly vulnerable. Some are accused of supporting the underground organization simply because of their personal relationships, local connections, or willingness to provide shelter and assistance.

The military operation against the Lukou Base brings the crisis to its climax. More than three hundred villagers are arrested, including local leaders and men who have become associated with the organization. Families are torn apart, livelihoods are disrupted, and the village's traditional agricultural life is devastated. Even the spring tea harvest, normally a season of work and renewal, becomes a painful reminder of the community's suffering.

The novel portrays the emotional and physical consequences of political persecution through the experiences of ordinary families. Xu Laichun struggles to maintain her household while her husband, Yu Lianfu, is imprisoned. Axi and her daughter Aiyu must shoulder the agricultural work normally shared by the entire family. Their conversations reveal the devastating consequences of mass arrests: a community deprived of its men, its labor force, its sense of security, and its future.

Inside the Investigation Bureau's prison in Xindian, Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong endure interrogation and physical torture. The authorities attempt to force them to identify the person who allegedly supplied information to the underground organization. Despite threats and brutal beatings, the two men refuse to betray Xu Jialiang or their fellow villagers. Their loyalty and brotherhood become a powerful expression of human dignity under extreme oppression.

Meanwhile, the authorities continue pursuing Lü Heruo and other fugitives. As the military crackdown intensifies, the remaining members of the underground network must flee through the mountainous terrain to avoid capture. Their escape becomes a desperate journey through danger, exhaustion, and uncertainty.

In the novel's tragic climax, Lü Heruo is bitten by a poisonous snake while fleeing through the mountains with Chen Ruyu and other companions. His condition rapidly deteriorates. Knowing that his survival may endanger the others, he urges his companions to leave without him. Before he dies, he entrusts Chen Ruyu to their care. His companions bury him hurriedly in a shallow grave along the mountain trail before continuing their escape.

As dawn breaks over the mountains, the survivors move forward while military forces continue searching for them. The story closes with an image of exhausted fugitives pressing onward through the forest, carrying the weight of loss, fear, and an uncertain future.

Through the intertwined destinies of intellectuals, political activists, village leaders, and ordinary families, the novel transforms a chapter of Taiwan's political history into a deeply human story about the price of conviction, the fragility of freedom, and the endurance of human dignity.

3. Target Readers

Primary Audience

Readers of literary historical fiction

Readers who appreciate historically grounded fiction exploring political upheaval, personal morality, social transformation, and the human consequences of authoritarian power.

Readers interested in Asian history and Taiwanese literature

The novel offers English-language readers an opportunity to explore a significant but comparatively underrepresented chapter of Taiwan's modern history. It introduces the social and political conditions of postwar Taiwan through the experiences of individuals and communities rather than through historical exposition alone.

Readers interested in political persecution and human rights

The novel addresses themes that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries: freedom of expression, political imprisonment, ideological conflict, state surveillance, betrayal, and the persecution of civilians.

Secondary Audience

• Readers interested in the history of East Asia during the Cold War.
• Readers of novels about underground political movements, resistance, and authoritarian regimes.
• University students and scholars in Taiwanese literature, modern Asian history, political history, and human rights studies.
• Readers interested in the relationship between literature, intellectual freedom, and political responsibility.
• Book clubs seeking historical fiction that encourages discussion of memory, justice, and the relationship between individuals and the state.

Potential Academic and Cultural Relevance

The novel may also be suitable for discussion in courses and reading programs involving:

• Modern Taiwanese history.
• Postwar East Asian political history.
• Literature and political repression.
• Historical memory and transitional justice.
• Human rights and freedom of expression.

4. The Novel's Importance and Historical Significance

A. Bringing an Underrepresented Chapter of Taiwan's History to International Readers

Taiwan's postwar political history remains relatively unfamiliar to many English-language readers. The period of authoritarian rule, political surveillance, ideological persecution, and the White Terror profoundly affected Taiwanese society and continues to shape its collective memory.

By focusing on the Lukou Base and the lives of the people caught in the political crackdown, this novel provides an accessible literary entry point into a difficult and important chapter of Taiwan's modern history.

Rather than presenting political history as a sequence of official events, the novel examines how political power reaches into ordinary homes, families, workplaces, and rural communities.

B. Preserving the Human Dimension of the White Terror

Historical accounts often emphasize political organizations, military operations, government agencies, and major political figures. This novel also gives attention to the people who are frequently overlooked in conventional historical narratives.

The suffering of prisoners, the anxiety of wives and children, the destruction of family livelihoods, and the courage of ordinary villagers reveal the human cost of political persecution.

The story of Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong, who endure torture without betraying their companions, illustrates how personal loyalty and moral conviction can survive even under extreme coercion.

C. Exploring the Responsibility and Vulnerability of Intellectuals

Lü Heruo represents the complex relationship between literature, intellectual responsibility, and political commitment.

The novel examines the difficult choices faced by writers and intellectuals when their beliefs bring them into conflict with political authority. It raises enduring questions:

• What responsibilities do writers have when society is threatened by injustice?
• What price must individuals pay for their political convictions?
• Can intellectual freedom survive in an environment governed by fear and surveillance?
• How does political repression alter the lives of people who never intended to become political actors?

These questions give the novel relevance beyond its Taiwanese historical setting.

D. Connecting Taiwan's Historical Experience with Universal Human Concerns

Although the story is rooted in Taiwan, its themes are universal.

Political persecution, ideological conflict, the abuse of state power, the destruction of communities, and the struggle to preserve human dignity have occurred in many societies throughout modern history.

The novel therefore offers readers in North America an opportunity to understand Taiwan not only as a geopolitical entity or a technological society, but also as a place with a complex historical experience and a rich literary tradition.

E. A Literary Interpretation of Historical Figures and Events

This work is a historical biographical novel rather than a strictly documentary biography.

It draws inspiration from historical figures and events, while using fictionalized characters, relationships, dialogue, and dramatic situations to construct a coherent narrative.

In particular, the novel's treatment of Lü Heruo's relationship with Chen Ruyu and his death following a snakebite during the escape is a fictionalized narrative interpretation. The historical circumstances surrounding Lü Heruo's final fate have been subject to differing accounts.

This distinction is important: the novel does not claim that every dramatic incident is an independently verified historical fact. Instead, it uses historical inspiration and literary imagination to explore the human experience of political persecution.

5. Author Biography: Chen Qingyang

Chen Qingyang is a Taiwanese novelist, poet, literary critic, rhetoric scholar, screenwriter, and cultural researcher with more than forty-five years of creative and academic experience.

Born in Taiwan in 1963, Chen has witnessed the island's transformation from an agricultural society into one of Asia's leading economic and semiconductor technology centers. This historical and cultural experience has profoundly influenced his literary perspective and his interest in the relationship between individual lives, social change, and collective memory.

He holds a master's degree in Taiwanese Literature from the Graduate Institute of Taiwanese Literature at National Taipei University of Education.

Chen entered the cultural and creative industries in 1999 through newspaper-serialized fiction. In 2010, he co-founded the Jing Jing Ren Film and Television Cultural and Creative Studio, where he served as Creative Director.

Over more than four decades, he has developed a substantial body of literary and critical work, including:

• More than 60 medium- and full-length Chinese novels.
• More than 100 short stories.
• Approximately 3,000 poems.
• Extensive literary criticism and research on modern Chinese poetry, rhetoric, and literary aesthetics.
• Screenplays and narrative projects with potential for film and television adaptation.

His literary interests encompass historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, mystery, biography, romance, and cross-cultural narratives.

His research and creative practice explore the relationship between Eastern literary traditions and modern Western narrative techniques. His work incorporates symbolic imagery, cinematic scene construction, psychological characterization, narrative montage, and rhetorical aesthetics.

His major literary and critical projects include:

• The Poetics of the East — a study of Eastern poetic aesthetics.
• The Romance of the East: Beauty and Sorrow — a collection of lyrical poetry.
• The Romance of the Island: Blood and Tears of Formosa — poetry exploring Taiwan's historical and cultural experience.
• The Aesthetics of Rhetoric in Modern Chinese Poetry — an extensive research project.
• Criticism and Appreciation of Modern Chinese Poetry — a study of poetic creation and literary criticism.

Chen is currently working to introduce his literary works to international readers through English and French translations, with the broader goal of bringing Taiwanese literature and historical experience into international literary and cultural exchange.

His fiction frequently explores the intersection of personal destiny and historical forces, making Taiwan's cultural and historical experience accessible through stories of universal human significance.

Closing Statement

THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO seeks to bring a significant chapter of Taiwan's modern history to readers in the United States and Canada through the form of literary historical fiction.

By combining political history, intellectual conflict, family tragedy, and the struggle for survival, the novel offers more than a narrative about a particular political movement. It is a story about people whose lives are transformed by forces beyond their control, and about the courage required to preserve one's conscience and humanity in an age of fear.

The author welcomes opportunities to work with literary agents and publishers in North America who are interested in internationally oriented historical fiction, Taiwanese literature, and stories with strong cultural and humanistic significance.

Author: Chen Qingyang
Nationality: Taiwanese
Portfolio: https://classic-blog.udn.com/screenwriter
English manuscript: Available upon request

《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》

歷史傳記小說

作者： 陳清揚
投稿對象： 美國、加拿大文學代理人及出版業者
作品類型： 歷史小說／文學小說／政治與社會歷史小說
故事背景： 戰後台灣，主要場景為台北與鹿窟山區
核心主題： 政治迫害、思想自由、歷史記憶、背叛、勇氣、愛情與生存

一、一句話劇情核心

台灣威權統治初期，知名作家呂赫若因捲入地下政治運動而陷入亡命危機；在政府監控、內部背叛與大規模軍事圍捕之下，他與庇護他的村民及革命同志被迫面對生死考驗，揭露政治迫害對個人、家庭與整個社區所造成的深刻創傷。

二、完整簡要故事大綱

《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》是一部以台灣作家呂赫若及戰後鹿窟基地事件為創作背景的歷史傳記小說。

故事發生於台灣戰後政治局勢動盪的年代。第二次世界大戰結束後，台灣社會進入政治與社會秩序劇烈變動的時期。政治猜疑、意識形態衝突與威權統治逐漸滲透日常生活，知識分子、作家、政治活動者以及普通百姓，都被捲入複雜而危險的政治漩渦。

故事主角呂赫若是一位具有社會理想的作家與知識分子。他因關懷社會正義而投入地下政治運動，隨著政府監控日益嚴密，他逐漸成為當局追查的對象。與地下組織及鹿窟基地的關係，使他陷入愈來愈危險的處境，也迫使他承受政治信念所帶來的沉重代價。

小說同時描寫他身邊一群重要人物的命運，包括地下組織的重要人物陳本江、具有相同知識理想的大學講師何雲軒、因親身經歷政治暴力而走上反抗之路的村長陳啟旺，以及許多被迫捲入政治衝突的鹿窟村民。

鹿窟基地逐漸形成一個秘密政治網絡。組織成員試圖聯絡地方支持者、建立情報管道，並推動自己的政治目標。然而，組織內部並非鐵板一塊。個人恩怨、權力鬥爭、思想歧異，以及政府情治人員的滲透，使原本脆弱的組織逐漸產生裂痕。

其中一條重要的劇情主線，是情治人員對地下組織的滲透。臥底特務董志乾成為當局蒐集情報、追查地下組織成員的重要工具。他與其他官員的陰謀及操作，使組織內部逐漸陷入猜疑、操弄與背叛的危機。

隨著政府的監控與追捕不斷升高，危機不再只限於地下政治活動者。鹿窟村的普通居民也開始受到牽連。許多人僅僅因為人際關係、地方聯繫，或曾經提供住所與協助，就被懷疑與地下組織有所關聯。

軍方對鹿窟基地展開大規模圍捕，將故事推向高潮。三百多名村民遭到逮捕，其中包括地方領袖，以及與地下組織有所接觸的男性居民。家庭因此分離，農業生產遭受破壞，原本平靜的山村生活也徹底改變。往年代表忙碌與希望的春茶採收季節，如今卻成為整個村落承受苦難的象徵。

小說透過普通家庭的遭遇，描寫政治迫害所造成的身心創傷。許來春在丈夫余連福被捕後，必須獨自維持家庭生活；阿惜與女兒愛玉則必須承擔原本由全家人共同完成的農務。她們的對話呈現大規模逮捕所造成的真實困境：村莊失去男性勞動力，家庭失去經濟支柱，居民失去安全感，也逐漸失去對未來的希望。

在新店保密局監獄裡，余連福與林茂同遭受嚴厲偵訊及肉體刑求。當局企圖逼迫兩人供出地下組織的消息來源。面對威脅與殘酷毆打，兩人仍然拒絕出賣許加良及其他村民。他們之間的情誼與堅持，成為極端政治壓迫下人性尊嚴的重要表現。

另一方面，當局仍持續追捕呂赫若及其他逃亡者。隨著軍事圍捕行動擴大，地下組織中尚未被捕的人員被迫穿越山區逃亡，以躲避軍警追查。他們的逃亡成為一場充滿危險、疲憊與未知的生死旅程。

故事最悲劇性的高潮，發生在呂赫若與陳如玉等人逃離山區的途中。呂赫若不幸遭毒蛇咬傷，身體迅速惡化。他知道自己的存在可能連累其他同伴，於是勸說眾人不要為了他而放棄逃生機會。在生命最後時刻，他將陳如玉託付給同伴照顧。最後，同行者只能在山徑旁挖掘一座簡陋的墳墓，將他安葬後繼續逃亡。

黎明降臨山林，倖存者仍必須繼續前行，身後則是持續追捕他們的軍警。故事以逃亡者疲憊而堅定的身影作結，留下失去親人、恐懼、犧牲，以及無法預知的未來。

透過知識分子、政治活動者、地方領袖與普通家庭的命運交錯，本書將台灣近代政治歷史轉化為一部深刻的人性故事，探討理想的代價、自由的脆弱，以及人在政治迫害下如何維護尊嚴。

三、目標讀者

主要讀者群

1. 歷史文學小說讀者

喜愛以真實歷史背景為基礎，探討政治動盪、個人道德、社會變遷及威權統治下人性處境的讀者。

2. 亞洲歷史與台灣文學讀者

本書提供英語讀者認識台灣近代史的重要機會。透過個人與社區的命運，而非單純的歷史事件敘述，呈現戰後台灣的政治與社會環境。

3. 關注政治迫害與人權議題的讀者

本書探討超越地域與文化界線的普世議題，包括言論自由、政治監禁、意識形態衝突、政府監控、背叛及平民遭受迫害等。

次要讀者群

• 對冷戰時期東亞歷史感興趣的讀者。
• 喜愛地下政治運動、社會抵抗及威權政體題材的小說讀者。
• 台灣文學、現代亞洲史、政治史與人權研究領域的大學師生及學者。
• 關心文學、知識分子思想自由與政治責任之間關係的讀者。
• 希望透過歷史小說討論歷史記憶、正義及個人與國家關係的讀書會讀者。

潛在學術與文化讀者

本書亦適合納入下列課程或閱讀計畫的討論範圍：

• 台灣近代史。
• 戰後東亞政治史。
• 文學與政治迫害。
• 歷史記憶與轉型正義。
• 人權與言論自由。

四、本書的重要性與歷史意義

1. 讓國際讀者認識台灣近代史中較少被介紹的篇章

對許多英語讀者而言，台灣戰後政治歷史仍是一個相對陌生的領域。

威權統治、政治監控、思想迫害與白色恐怖，深刻影響台灣社會，也持續形塑台灣人的集體記憶。

本書以鹿窟基地及遭受政治圍捕的村民命運為敘事核心，讓國際讀者能透過文學故事，認識台灣近代史中一段重要而沉重的歷史。

本書並非單純按照官方歷史事件的順序敘述政治史，而是深入描寫政治權力如何進入普通人的家庭、工作場所、生活環境與偏遠農村。

2. 保存白色恐怖歷史中被忽略的人性面貌

傳統歷史敘述往往著重政治組織、軍事行動、政府機構及重要政治人物。本書則進一步關注那些容易在歷史敘述中被忽略的普通人。

受刑者的苦難、妻兒的焦慮、家庭生計的破壞，以及普通村民在危難中展現的勇氣，都呈現政治迫害所付出的真實人性代價。

余連福與林茂同在刑求之下仍不願出賣同伴的故事，更凸顯人在極端威脅中，仍然可能堅守情義、信任與道德尊嚴。

3. 探討知識分子的思想責任與生命困境

呂赫若象徵文學、知識分子責任與政治理想之間複雜的關係。

本書探討作家與知識分子在面對政治權力時，如何因為自己的思想與信念而陷入危險，並提出幾個具有時代意義的問題：

• 當社會遭受不公義對待時，作家應該承擔什麼樣的責任？
• 個人為了堅持政治信念，必須付出多大的代價？
• 在恐懼與監控的環境中，思想自由是否仍有生存的空間？
• 政治迫害如何改變那些原本並不打算參與政治活動的普通人的命運？

這些問題使本書不僅具有台灣歷史意義，也具有跨越國界的文學價值。

4. 將台灣歷史經驗與普世人類議題連結

本書的故事雖然發生在台灣，所探討的卻是具有普世性的議題。

政治迫害、意識形態衝突、國家權力濫用、社區瓦解，以及人們維護尊嚴與自由的努力，在現代世界許多國家的歷史中都曾經發生。

因此，本書能讓北美讀者從另一個角度認識台灣：台灣不僅是一個地緣政治上的重要地區，也是一個擁有複雜歷史經驗與深厚文學傳統的社會。

5. 以文學手法重新詮釋歷史人物與事件

本書的定位是歷史傳記小說，而不是嚴格依據史料撰寫的紀實傳記。

作品以歷史人物與事件為創作靈感，同時運用虛構人物關係、對話及戲劇情節，建立完整的小說敘事。

尤其是呂赫若與陳如玉之間的感情關係，以及呂赫若在逃亡途中遭毒蛇咬傷身亡的情節，均屬於小說為敘事需要所作的虛構詮釋。呂赫若最後的歷史遭遇，本身也存在不同說法。

因此，本書並不宣稱所有戲劇情節都具有獨立史料證據，而是透過歷史素材與文學想像，探索政治迫害下的人性經驗。

五、作者陳清揚的創作履歷

陳清揚是一位來自台灣的小說家、詩人、文學評論家、修辭學研究者、電影編劇及文化研究者，擁有四十五年以上的文學創作與學術研究經驗。

陳清揚於1963年出生於台灣，親身經歷台灣從農業社會轉型為亞洲重要經濟體及半導體科技島的歷史過程。這段社會與文化變遷，深刻影響他的文學視野，使他長期關注個人命運、社會變革與集體記憶之間的關係。

他畢業於國立臺北教育大學台灣文學研究所，取得碩士學位。

1999年，他以報紙連載小說進入文化創意產業。2010年，他共同創立掌鏡人影視文創工作室，並擔任創意總監。

四十多年來，他累積了相當豐富的文學創作與評論研究成果，包括：

• 六十部以上中長篇小說。
• 一百篇以上短篇小說。
• 約三千首詩作。
• 現代華文詩學、修辭學及文學美學方面的大量評論與研究。
• 具備電影及電視改編潛力的劇本與敘事企畫。

他的文學創作涵蓋歷史小說、奇幻、科幻、冒險、推理、傳記及愛情等多種題材，並持續發展具有跨文化視野的敘事作品。

在文學研究與創作方面，他致力於探索東方文學傳統與現代西方小說敘事技巧之間的關係。作品融合象徵意象、電影式場景安排、人物心理描寫、蒙太奇敘事及修辭美學。

主要文學與評論研究計畫包括：

• 《東方詩學》——探討東方詩歌美學的研究。
• 《東方的羅曼史：美麗與哀愁》——抒情詩創作集。
• 《島國的羅曼史：福爾摩沙的血與淚》——以台灣歷史與文化經驗為主題的詩集。
• 《新詩修辭美學》——大型文學理論研究。
• 《新詩創作批評與賞析》——探討新詩創作與文學批評的研究。

陳清揚目前正逐步將自己的文學作品翻譯成英文及法文，希望將台灣文學與歷史經驗帶入國際出版及文化交流領域。

他的小說經常探討個人命運與歷史力量的交會，透過具有普世意義的人性故事，讓國際讀者理解台灣獨特的文化與歷史經驗。

結語：國際出版合作展望

《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》希望透過歷史文學小說的形式，將台灣近代史中一段重要的歷史帶給美國與加拿大的讀者。

本書結合政治歷史、知識分子思想衝突、家庭悲劇與生存抗爭，不僅描寫特定政治運動的興衰，更呈現一群普通人如何因為時代力量而改變命運，以及人們如何在恐懼與迫害之中，努力守住自己的良知與人性。

作者期待與對國際歷史小說、台灣文學及具有文化與人文價值的作品感興趣的北美文學代理人及出版社合作。

作者： 陳清揚
國籍： 台灣
作品集與個人創作網站： https://classic-blog.udn.com/screenwriter
英文小說完整稿： 可依代理人或出版社需求提供

Dear [Agent's Name],

I am seeking literary representation for THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO, a historical biographical novel set in postwar Taiwan. Combining literary fiction with political and social history, the novel explores the fate of an intellectual caught between personal conviction, political persecution, and the struggle for survival during one of the most turbulent periods in Taiwan's modern history.

The novel follows Lü Heruo, a respected Taiwanese writer whose involvement in an underground political movement draws him into an increasingly dangerous world of surveillance, infiltration, betrayal, and military suppression. As the authorities close in, he is forced to flee and seek refuge among people who risk their own lives to protect him. His escape becomes inseparable from the suffering of the ordinary villagers and families who shelter members of the underground movement.

At the center of the story is the Lukou mountain community, where political resistance and everyday life collide. An intelligence infiltration exposes the underground network, leading to mass arrests and devastating consequences for local residents. More than three hundred villagers are implicated or arrested, while families are left to endure interrogation, separation, imprisonment, and uncertainty. Through characters such as Xu Laichun, Axi, Aiyu, Yu Lianfu, and Lin Maotong, the novel portrays the human cost of political repression beyond the lives of its principal historical figures.

Rather than presenting history solely through political leaders or official records, the novel brings the experiences of ordinary people to the foreground. It examines how political fear enters family life, how loyalty and betrayal shape human relationships, and how individuals struggle to preserve dignity and hope under coercive power. The story also explores the moral responsibilities of intellectuals and the difficult choices people face when their beliefs place themselves and others in danger.

The novel's historical significance lies in its exploration of Taiwan's postwar political persecution and the human consequences of ideological conflict. For readers unfamiliar with Taiwan's history, it offers an accessible literary perspective on a period that remains essential to understanding the island's modern identity. Its themes of freedom of thought, human rights, historical memory, and individual courage also connect Taiwan's experience with broader international conversations about political oppression and the cost of resistance.

THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO is intended for readers of literary historical fiction, Asian and Taiwanese history, political fiction, and narratives concerned with human rights and social justice. It may also appeal to book clubs, university readers, and audiences interested in twentieth-century East Asian history.

I am Chen Qingyang, a Taiwanese novelist, poet, literary critic, rhetoric scholar, and screenwriter. I have devoted more than forty-five years to literary creation and research. I hold a master's degree in Taiwanese Literature from National Taipei University of Education and entered the cultural and creative industries in 1999 through serialized fiction published in newspapers. In 2010, I co-founded a film and cultural creative studio, where I served as Creative Director.

My literary work spans historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, mystery, biography, and romance. My Chinese-language publications include more than sixty novels and over one hundred short stories, alongside extensive poetry and literary criticism. I am currently working to introduce selected works to international readers through English and French translations.

You may find an overview of my literary and screenwriting work in my portfolio:

https://classic-blog.udn.com/screenwriter

I would be pleased to provide the complete manuscript and any additional materials for your consideration.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss whether this novel might be suitable for your list.

Sincerely,

Chen Qingyang
Taiwanese Novelist

 

《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》

致美國、加拿大文學代理人的英文投稿查詢信——中文對照

親愛的 [代理人姓名]：

我希望尋求貴方代理，推薦我的歷史傳記小說《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》（THE WHITE FILES: THE FLIGHT OF LÜ HERUO）。本書以戰後台灣為背景，結合文學小說與政治社會歷史，探討一位知識分子在個人信念、政治迫害與生存掙扎之間的命運，呈現台灣現代史上最動盪時期之一的社會面貌。

小說以備受敬重的台灣作家呂赫若為核心人物。他因捲入地下政治運動，而逐漸陷入監視、滲透、背叛與軍事鎮壓交織的危險處境。隨著當局的搜捕行動步步逼近，他被迫展開逃亡，尋求願意冒著生命危險庇護他的民眾。這場逃亡也與那些收留地下運動成員的普通村民及其家庭所承受的苦難緊密相連。

故事的核心場景位於鹿窟山區社群，政治抵抗與日常生活在此正面衝突。一次情報滲透使地下組織網絡曝光，導致大規模逮捕，並為當地居民帶來嚴重後果。三百多名村民受到牽連或遭到逮捕，許多家庭被迫面對偵訊、親人離散、牢獄之災與前途未卜的命運。透過許來春、阿喜、阿玉、余連福與林茂通等人物，小說呈現政治壓迫所造成的真實人性代價，而不僅僅聚焦於主要歷史人物的命運。

本書並不只透過政治領袖或官方歷史紀錄來呈現歷史，而是將普通人的生活經驗帶到故事前景。小說探討政治恐懼如何侵入家庭生活、忠誠與背叛如何改變人際關係，以及個人在強制權力之下如何努力維護尊嚴與希望。故事也觸及知識分子的道德責任，以及當個人信念可能使自己與他人陷入危險時，所必須面對的艱難抉擇。

本書的歷史意義，在於深入探討戰後台灣的政治迫害，以及意識形態衝突對人民生活造成的影響。對不熟悉台灣歷史的國際讀者而言，本書提供了一個容易進入的文學視角，協助讀者理解這段對台灣現代認同具有重要意義的歷史。小說所涉及的思想自由、人權、歷史記憶與個人勇氣等主題，也使台灣的歷史經驗得以連結國際社會對政治壓迫與反抗代價的廣泛討論。

《白色檔案：呂赫若的亡命之途》的目標讀者包括文學歷史小說、亞洲與台灣歷史、政治小說，以及關注人權與社會正義議題的讀者。本書亦適合讀書會、大學師生，以及對二十世紀東亞歷史感興趣的讀者。

我是陳清揚，台灣小說家、詩人、文學評論家、修辭學研究者與編劇，從事文學創作與研究逾四十五年，擁有國立臺北教育大學台灣文學研究所碩士學位。1999年，我以報紙連載小說進入文化創意產業；2010年共同創立影視文創工作室，並擔任創意總監。

我的創作涵蓋歷史、奇幻、科幻、冒險、推理、傳記與愛情等類型。中文創作包括六十餘部長篇及中篇小說、一百餘篇短篇小說，以及大量詩歌與文學評論。目前，我正陸續將部分作品翻譯成英文與法文，希望將台灣文學創作介紹給更多國際讀者。

您可以透過以下個人作品集網站，進一步了解我的文學創作與影視編劇作品：

https://classic-blog.udn.com/screenwriter

如貴方有興趣，我很樂意提供完整小說稿及其他相關出版資料，供您進一步審閱。

感謝您撥冗閱讀這封投稿信。若本書符合貴方的代理出版方向，我非常期待有機會進一步交流。

敬祝
順心

陳清揚
台灣小說家