In this collection of four stories, Mo Yan unveils the abuses of an oppressive society and writes of those who suffer, physically and spiritually, under its yoke. The stories here exemplify Mo Yan's range of writing styles: from tragedy to wicked satire, from magical fable to harsh realism. His narrative is concise and undidactic; his imagery sharp and sensual.

Author Biography

Mo Yan is a leading writer in the scene of contemporary Chinese literature and a frequent winner of national literary prizes, including the latest China's Annual Writer's Prize. His famous novel Red Sorghum has been made into a film by Zhang Yimou. Howard Goldblatt is Research Professor of Chinese at The University of Notre Dame, U.S.A.