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The Four Books

By Yan Lianke
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Four Books by Yan Lianke is a poignant exploration of life within a re-education camp during China's Maoist era. Through the eyes of various imprisoned intellectuals, the novel reveals the surreal and often tragic experiences imposed by the totalitarian regime. As the characters strive for survival and personal redemption, the story offers a rich commentary on human resilience and the absurdity of oppressive systems.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by a powerful blend of historical fiction and allegory set during China's Great Leap Forward. It appeals to readers who appreciate rich storytelling with a touch of satire, exploring themes of power, humanity, and survival in a vividly oppressive environment.

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The Four Books

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Yan Lianke's most powerful novel yet. Reminiscent of A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and Darkness at Noon, Yan's mythical tale portrays the grotesque persecution during the Great Leap Forward.

In the ninety-ninth district of a labour camp, the Author, Musician, Scholar, Theologian and Technician undergo re-education, to restore their revolutionary zeal. In charge of this process is the Child, who delights in enforcing draconian rules.

The Four Books tells the story of one of China's most controversial periods. It also reveals the power of camaraderie, love and faith against oppression in the darkest possible times.

'A searing, allegorical view of Chinese society during some of the darkest moments of the Mao era...Yan cements his reputation as one of China's most important — and certainly most fearless — living writers.' — Kirkus Reviews

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Four Books by Yan Lianke has been widely praised as a brilliant and devastating piece of work that offers an allegorical and scathing satire of the Chinese society during the Mao era. Critics admire its blend of historical context with imaginative storytelling, highlighting Lianke's fearless critique of bureaucracy and tyranny. The novel's compelling narrative is noted for its dark humour and accessibility, making it a powerful and often disturbing reflection on integrity and ethics amidst horror.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922182487

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 March 2015

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 465g

Pages: 352

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Yan Lianke

About the Author

Yan Lianke was born in 1958 in Henan Province, China. Text has published his novels Serve the People!, Lenin's Kisses and Dream of Ding Village, which was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize. Yan Lianke won the Hua Zhong World Chinese Literature Prize in 2013. He has also won two of China's most prestigious literary awards: the Lu Xan Prize and the Lao She Award. In 2014, he won the Franz Kafka Prize. He lives in Bejing. Carlos Rojas is Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University. His translations include two novels by Yan Lianke: Lenin's Kisses and The Four Books.

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