錢基博《現代中國文學史》是中國第一本以「現代」為名的文學史著，其內容卻是十足的中國古文學。錢氏承襲傳統《文苑傳》與「文史」的觀念，以文言寫出大談古典文學的「現代文學史」。其結尾雖然寫到五四，但論述主幹仍在近代文學。其尊傳統而批判新文學的論述，顯現了對當時國學沒落的憂心，希望透過文學史的撰寫重新確立儒家道德倫理、捍衛國學。而其價值乃在保留、論述了較少為人所觸及的近代文學裡，傳統但仍具研究意義的部分。 Qian, Ji-Bo’s History of Modern Chinese Literature is the first history of Chinese literature with the word ＂modern.＂ However, its content is 80 percent classical Chinese literature. Following the traditional conception from ＂Wen Yuan Chuan＂ and ‘Wen Shi’(文史, which means history of literature), Qian wrote History of Modern Chinese Literature, which addresses classical literature, in classical Chinese words. The book ended in discussing ＂May Fourth,＂ but its major points mainly lie in the discussion of early modern literature. Qian criticizes new modern literature because he worries about downfallen Sinology. He tries to reconfirm Confucianism and defend Sinology by writing the history of Chinese literature. The main value of this book was to preserve and discuss traditional but meaningful parts of the early modern literature which few people know about.
