[3] The title is based on a purportedly[4] French proverb: The novel is known for its acerbic asides, such as describing one young lady in the following way: Qian never completed another novel after the 1940s, shifting to writing research publications on classical Chinese literature.

It is revealed that his studies were financed by a family friend, but Fang Hongjian wasted his time aimlessly bouncing between European schools.

On board the Vicomte de Bragelonne, Fang meets Su Wenwan (Chinese: 蘇文紈; pinyin: Sū Wénwán), a young woman in her late 20s.

He also meets the tanned and voluptuous Miss Pao (Chinese: 鮑小姐; pinyin: Bào xiǎojiě), whom Fang pursues with some success during the voyage.

When the boat reaches Hong Kong Miss Pao disembarks into the embrace of her fiancé, a middle-aged balding doctor, and Fang realizes he has been used.

Eventually Fang Hongjian and Zhao Xinmei both receive job offers to teach at San Lü University in the countryside.

At the university Fang Hongjian develops a friendship with Zhao Xinmei and falls in love with assistant professor Sun Roujia (Chinese: 孫柔嘉).

The novel have been described by Jonathan Spence as "a classic of world literature, a masterpiece of parodic fiction" and the "greatest Chinese novel of the twentieth century", while the literary critic C.T.

The novel also shed light on perspectives in topics such as identity, women, marriage, education and middle-class snobbery during the Chinese Republic period.

[9] Qian reflected on  "harmony without uniformity" in Sino-Western intercultural dialogue through incorporating cultural relativism and the principle of "diversity" in Fortress Besieged.

[10] The cross cultural references create literary and theoretical links between the West and the East in 20th century Chinese academic history.

With the translated versions in majority speaking languages, the novel connects foreign and domestic readers to interpret the social complexities in China through relatable cultural references.