1. Lu Xun (China)

Chekhov of the Chinese Revolution, Lu Xun wrote a huge amount of short stories extolling socialist ideals in the 1920s and ‘30s. His work highlights the instability of the Republican years, when a weak and corrupt right-wing central government struggled for control against communists and regional warlords. There’s a comforting rigor and plainness to his writing style.

Start with “The True Story of Ah Q,” which details the misadventures of a cowardly, stupid, yet somehow likeable peasant:

"Thinking that Wang meant to run away, Ah Q stepped forward raising his fist to punch him. But before his fist came down, Whiskers Wang had already seized him and given him a tug which sent him staggering. Then Whiskers Wang seized Ah Q's pigtail and started dragging him towards the wall to knock his head in the time-honoured manner.

'A gentleman uses his tongue but not his hands!' protested Ah Q, his head on one side."