Abstract: YU Qie engaged in literary creation in his youth when he studied in St. John's University. The literary circle in St. John's University presented a blend of old and new elements in the early 1920s, which provided plenty space and possibilities for his new literary creation. His absorption of new literary creation theories, retrospective thinking of the difficulties in new literary creation and future solutions, and inheriting of the drama tradition in St. John's and creation based on the tradition—all of these helped to lead to the naissance of a "new civil novelist" in 1940s.

Key words: YU Qie, early works, St. John's University, new civil novels