Description
1966, China is on the cusp of a decade of upheaval, and the furnaces of Old Kiln have never been this cold. The village's once-famed ceramics production has almost ground to a halt. Only ancient grudges smoulder beneath its poverty-stricken streets, never forgotten by the two families that preside over the village. Between them stands the adopted Inkcap, whose mysterious origins leave him unloved and barely tolerated.
When the faraway capital demands a purer party line, the directive trickles down to this hinterland and revolutionary factions form. Clashing visions for a new future unravel the tight-knit community along clan lines.
One year can bury centuries of history
About the Author
Jia Pingwa began his life as a published author in 1980 and published his first novel in 1986. His 1993 novel Ruined City was banned for explicit content and became one of the most pirated books in modern Chinese literature. Jia Pingwa went on to publish a further 11 novels and has won multiple literary prizes. James Trapp has had a long career promoting Chinese language and culture in UK schools. As well as new versions of the Art of War and Daodejing, his translations include Shadow of the Hunter and Longevity Park. Much of his work revolves around integrating the study of Chinese language and culture, and breaking down barriers of cultural misunderstanding that still persist. Olivia Milburn is professor of Chinese language and literature at Seoul National University. In 2018, Milburn's translation work was recognised by the Chinese government with a Special Book Award of China, which honours contributions to bridging cultures and fostering understanding. Christopher Payne has co-translated the award-winning novels Decoded and In the Dark by Mai Jia, and along with his frequent collaborator, Olivia Milburn, he's also brought Jiang Zilong's magnum opus, Empires of Dust, to an English-language audience. Christopher holds a PhD in Chinese literature from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and he has spent more than a decade teaching at postsecondary institutions, most notably Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, and The University of Manchester in the UK. In 2020 he took up a position at the University of Toronto, where he has continued to champion Chinese literature in the English-speaking world.
Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR
'Jia Pingwa is meticulous as a miniaturist.' - Ronan Hession, The Irish Times
'Jia is an anthropologist as much as he is a poet' - LA Review of Books
'Jia's reputation as one of the greatest living authors is hard to dispute' - The China Project
Book Information
ISBN 9781838905262
Author Jia, Pingwa
Format Paperback
Imprint Sinoist Books
Publisher ACA Publishing Limited
Details
Imprint: |
Sinoist Books |
