沈从文先生与姚雪垠先生的文字交往始于上世纪三十年代前期。那时沈主持《大公报》副刊,姚向该报投稿,有过书信往还,却从未谋面。直到1962年秋,姚为《李自成》第一卷出版事宜赴京听取专家意见,才在责编江晓天陪同下前往拜访。当时沈拉着姚的手高兴地说:“我们是三十年的老朋友,今天第一次见面!”“文革”中二人均受冲击。姚在困境中坚持创作,而沈是他希望保持联系的朋友之一。1975年姚移寓北京后,又曾晤沈,并就《李自成》创作中的史料、服装等问题相互切磋。 Mr. Shen Congwen and Mr. Yao Xueyin text communication began in the early 1930s. At that time, Shen presided over the “Ta Kung Pao” supplement, which Yao submitted to the newspaper. He wrote a letter and never met. It was not until the autumn of 1962 that Yao went to Beijing to listen to expert opinions on the first volume publication of “Li Zicheng,” and was escorted by Jiang Xiaodian. At that time, Yao’s hand, who was holding Shen, said happily: "We are the thirty-year-old friend who met for the first time today. Both were shocked at the Cultural Revolution. Yao insisted on creating in times of trouble, and Shen was one of the friends he hoped to keep in touch. After Yao moved to Beijing in 1975, he met with Shen and discussed with each other on the historical materials and costumes in Li Zicheng’s creation.