Diary of a Madman , is a short story by the Chinese writer Lu Xun , published in 1918. It was the first and one of the most influential works written in vernacular Chinese in Republican-era China, and would become a cornerstone of the New Culture Movement. **Lu Xun (**25 September 1881 – 19 October 1936), born Zhou Zhangshou, was a Chinese writer, literary critic, lecturer, and state servant. He was a leading figure of modern Chinese literature.