Mao Dun also worked in genres other than novels, such as essays, drama scripts, theories, short stories and novellas. He was famous for translating western literature as he had begun to acquire theoretical knowledge of European literature while studying in Peking University in 1913. Additionally, although he was not the first person in China to translate the works of Scottish historical novelist Walter Scott, he is considered to be the first person to introduce Walter Scott's work to Chinese publicity through his "Critical Biography" on Walter Scott.