《後紅樓夢》是《紅樓夢》的第一本續作，因《紅樓夢》的經典高度，種種續作評價皆不高，故單一文本的續書研究甚少；本文嘗試由「續書作者亦為前文本讀者」的概念出發，觀察《後紅樓夢》的作者形象及續書中所呈現的文化背景。續書作者往往兼有《紅樓夢》讀者的身分，這些續書的作家群，同時也是《紅樓夢》的「迷」（fan）；分析《後紅樓夢》的內容，可分為兩個討論的面向：一是舊故事的續衍，二是新元素的增添。續書內容常有與前文本情節相似之處，從「迷」的（fan）角度來看，情節的模仿除了是續書作者連結前、後文本的方法外，亦可視為對前文本「經典場景的回味」；「紅迷」在閱讀前文本時，會因文本發展不如自身想像而產生憤怒，續書就有了補償的作用。再者，《後紅樓夢》文化性格異於前文本，續書中大觀園樂園形象崩解、賈家復興，甚至出現民間宗教的符碼，都反映了乾嘉時期社會風氣的轉變以及中下階層文人的信仰與經世思想。

“The Later Dream of the Red Chamber” is the first sequel of “Dream of the Red Chamber”, but is rarely known. The fine reputations of “Dream of the Red Chamber” lead the direction of research associated the book, so sequels are often neglected. The study notices that most of the sequel authors are readers and fans of “Dream of the Red Chamber”. Thus, based on this author-reader identity, this study attempts to observe how the images of sequel authors and the cultural background are displayed in “The Later Dream of the Red Chamber”. The textual analysis of “The Later Dream of the Red Chamber” could be divided into two aspects: the first one is the continuity of the old story and the other is the added, fresh elements. The content of the sequel often has the similarities with the plot of the earlier one. From the angle of fans, the imitation of plots not only can be regarded as a way to connect the earlier one with the later one but also is viewed as a chance for the readers to revisit the classical scenes appearing in the previous creation. Anger will be produced when the enthusiastic readers find out that the development of the plot is not what they have expected; at this moment, the sequel serves the function of compensation. Moreover, the cultural characteristics in “The Later Dream of the Red Chamber” differ from those in the earlier one and some of them reflect on the transformation of social atmosphere, the beliefs and statecraft thoughts of lower-middle class in Qianlong and Jiaqing Periods, for example, the collapse of the paradisiacal image of Daguanyuan, restoration of the Jia family and even the codes of the folk religions.