Background
Xu was born in Tainan, Taiwan to a family of Chinese nationalists.
许地山, 許地山, 贊堃落华生, 落華生
Xu was born in Tainan, Taiwan to a family of Chinese nationalists.
He was best known for his Chinese novels that focus on the people of the southern provinces of China and Southeast Asia. After the Japanese takeover in 1895 he accompanied his father and settled down in Fujian. He also taught in a Chinese School in Myanmar.
Xu was an active participant and one of the pioneers of the May Fourth Movement.
He was interested in Indian literature, and liked Rabindranath Tagore"s works. After obtaining a Bachelor degree from Yenching University, he continued his studies at Columbia University and Oxford University.
His association with Hong Kong began in 1936 when he was appointed by Hong Kong University to be dean of the department of Chinese literature. Soon after the appointment, he devoted himself to the reformation of the education system.
He was also active in cultural circles in Hong Kong, forming literature societies in Hong Kong.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Xu devoted himself to the Anti-Japanese cause, delivering speeches in Nationalist rallies and promoting Anti-Japanese sentiments. Xu also wrote patriotic novels that were well received by critics. Despite this, Xu"s health deteriorated and his heart condition worsened.
On the fourth of August, 1941, Xu suffered a heart attack and died.
He was 49 years old.