"Monica's Melody" is a love story set against the backdrop of World War I. While the characters are purely fictional, the historical context of the war is based on real events. The story begins in an unknown place and gradually moves into Jiangsu, eventually leading to Shanghai. In 1927, Shanghai officially separated from Jiangsu Province during the 16th year of the Republic of China. At that time, Shanghai had both the International Settlement and the French Concession. It was also the second year of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong's Northern Expedition, making the government of that era highly unstable. However, I chose to depict a sense of peace amidst such turbulence, creating a unique contrast.
Since the story is fictional, I hope it helps you better understand the heartache and separation, the joys and sorrows caused by war. Although World War I ended in 1918, and nine years had passed by the time of the Northern Expedition, this fictional world provides a deeper exploration of the devastating impact of war. It is essential for us, as people, to understand the horrors of war and its consequences, just as we should also understand the nature of love.
I believe many of you enjoy watching romantic dramas and often long for the idealized love depicted in them. However, it's important to remember that real-life love is often quite different. No one can offer you the kind of perfect love seen in romantic dramas because love is something that requires mutual understanding and compromise. Disagreements are inevitable and entirely natural in a relationship.
In this story, the male protagonist is named Ray, and the female protagonist is Monica.
I won't spoil the mood any further. This is my first attempt at writing a novel, and I sincerely hope you will enjoy it. Since this is my debut work, I hope you can appreciate the literary world of "Monica's Melody" , even though novels and essay collections differ greatly. Enjoy the journey!