Ailing Zhang Livres

This novel portrays the horror and absurdity that the land-reform movement brings to a southern village in China during the early 1950s. Contrary to the hopes of the peasants in this story, the redistribution of land does not mean an end to hunger.

Shanghai, 1930s. Shen Shijun, a young engineer, has fallen in love with his colleague, the beautiful Gu Manzhen. He is determined to resist his family’s efforts to match him with his wealthy cousin so that he can marry her. But dark circumstances—a lustful brother-in-law, a treacherous sister, a family secret—force the two young lovers apart. As Manzhen and Shijun go on their separate paths, they lose track of one another, and their lives become filled with feints and schemes, missed connections and tragic misunderstandings. At every turn, societal expectations seem to thwart their prospects for happiness. Still, Manzhen and Shijun dare to hold out hope—however slim—that they might one day meet again. A glamorous, wrenching tale set against the glittering backdrop of an extraordinary city, Half a Lifelong Romance is a beloved classic from one of the essential writers of twentieth-century China.

The book presents a captivating narrative rooted in Chinese culture, exploring themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern life. Through rich character development and vivid storytelling, it delves into the struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating their heritage while confronting contemporary challenges. The author's unique perspective offers readers a profound insight into the intersection of past and present, making it a compelling read for those interested in cultural exploration and personal growth.

The book is part of the New York Review Books Original series, known for its curated selection of literary works. It features a unique narrative that explores themes of identity, culture, and the human experience. The writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, offering readers a fresh perspective on familiar subjects. With its rich character development and intricate plot, it invites readers to delve into a world that is both relatable and profoundly impactful.

Set in Shanghai during World War II, this story intertwines themes of love and espionage, showcasing the intense emotional connections between characters amidst the backdrop of conflict. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee, the narrative explores the complexities of relationships and loyalty in a time of turmoil, making it a compelling tale of passion and intrigue.

In 1940s Shanghai, beautiful young Jiazhi spends her days playing mahjong and drinking tea with high-society ladies. But China is occupied by invading Japanese forces, and in wartime things are not always what they seem.Jiazhi's life is a front. A patriotic student radical, her mission is to seduce a powerful employee of the occupying government and lead him to the assassin's bullet. Yet as she waits for him to arrive at their liasion, Jiazhi begins to wonder if she is cut out to be a femme fatake and coldly take Mr Yi to his death. Or is she beginning to fall in love with him?A passionate tale of espionage, deception and love, accompanied here by four further short stories by Eileen Chang.

From the beloved award-winning author of Native Speaker and The Surrendered, a highly provocative, deeply affecting story of one woman's legendary quest in a shocking, future America

A best-selling, autobiographical depiction of class privilege, bad romance, and political intrigue during World War II in China. Now available in English for the first time, Eileen Chang’s dark romance opens with Julie, living at a convent school in Hong Kong on the eve of the Japanese invasion. Her mother, Rachel, long divorced from Julie’s opium-addict father, saunters around the world with various lovers. Recollections of Julie’s horrifying but privileged childhood in Shanghai clash with a flamboyant, sometimes incestuous cast of relations that crowd her life. Eventually, back in Shanghai, she meets the magnetic Chih-yung, a traitor who collaborates with the Japanese puppet regime. Soon they’re in the throes of an impassioned love affair that swings back and forth between ardor and anxiety, secrecy and ruin. Like Julie’s relationship with her mother, her marriage to Chih-yung is marked by long stretches of separation interspersed with unexpected little reunions. Chang’s emotionally fraught, bitterly humorous novel holds a fractured mirror directly in front of her own heart.

Eileen Chang's collection features previously untranslated stories and essays that span her career, beginning in 1940s Shanghai and tracing her journey through Cold War migrations to Hong Kong and the U.S. It includes notable works like "Classmates Then All Successful Now," which explores her life through complex time frames, and "Flowers Adrift, Blossoms Afloat," where a young woman contemplates her connection to her homeland while crossing a bridge, symbolizing the passage of time and cultural transition.

Die chinesische Wegbereiterin der Moderne Eileen Changs fünf brillante Erzählungen spiegeln die Umbruchzeit der 40er Jahre in China wider. Sie erzählen vom Leben der Frauen, die sich ihren Weg bahnen zwischen rigider Familienmoral und dem Versprechen auf Selbstbestimmung. In „Das goldene Joch“, der bekanntesten Geschichte der chinesischen Moderne, muss eine Frau sich entscheiden, ob sie die Zwänge einer arrangierten Ehe oder die vermeintliche Freiheit des Konkubinats aushalten will. Qiqiao ist mittellos, aber schön. Im China Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts hat sie die Wahl, sich vor das goldene Joch einer arrangierten Ehe spannen oder als Konkubine aushalten zu lassen. Qiqiao heiratet in die reiche Jiang-Familie ein und muss sich mit dem bettlägerigen Sohn abfinden. Sie hasst ihren Mann, und in ihrer Einsamkeit verliebt sie sich in den gut aussehenden Schwager. Gefangen in der strikten Familienordnung und den Gehässigkeiten ihrer Verwandtschaft hilflos ausgeliefert, beginnt sie Trost im Opium zu suchen. Qiqiao zerbricht an ihrer Zeit, in der das moderne Versprechen der Selbstbestimmung neben der rigiden Moral und dem konfuzianischen Familienideal steht. In dieser und vier weiteren Erzählungen erweckt Eileen Chang das sich wandelnde Shanghai der 40er Jahre zum Leben. „Eileen Changs psychologisches Gespür und ihr sprachliches Geschick sind überwältigend.“ Neue Zürcher Zeitung „Das goldene Joch: Die brillanteste Erzählung der gesamten chinesischen Literaturgeschichte.“ Kindlers Literaturlexikon