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Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

By Dai Sijie

(64)

| Hardcover | 9780375413094

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Book Description

An enchanting literary debut—already an international best-seller.

At the height of Mao’s infamous Cultural Revolution, two boys are among hundreds of thousands exiled to the countryside for “re-education.” The narrator and his best friend, Luo, guilty of being the soContinue

An enchanting literary debut—already an international best-seller.

At the height of Mao’s infamous Cultural Revolution, two boys are among hundreds of thousands exiled to the countryside for “re-education.” The narrator and his best friend, Luo, guilty of being the sons of doctors, find themselves in a remote village where, among the peasants of Phoenix mountain, they are made to cart buckets of excrement up and down precipitous winding paths. Their meager distractions include a violin—as well as, before long, the beautiful daughter of the local tailor.

But it is when the two discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation that their re-education takes its most surprising turn. While ingeniously concealing their forbidden treasure, the boys find transit to worlds they had thought lost forever. And after listening to their dangerously seductive retellings of Balzac, even the Little Seamstress will be forever transformed.

From within the hopelessness and terror of one of the darkest passages in human history, Dai Sijie has fashioned a beguiling and unexpected story about the resilience of the human spirit, the wonder of romantic awakening and the magical power of storytelling.

Critics

  • Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress By Dai Sijie

    Looks can be deceiving: Between the covers of this tiny book lies a very large story, indeed. In Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, as the Cultural Revolution sweeps across China, two young men join forces when they're exiled to the countrysid ... (read full critics)

    bookpage published on Fri, 17 Sep 2010

  • Dai Sijie: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

    Time to broaden my literary horizons with another handsome little edition in the Vintage East series: this time, Dai Sijie’s 2001 novel Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Or am I broadening my horizons? Sijie’s novel seems to owe more to the g ... (read full critics)

    theasylum published on Fri, 10 Sep 2010

7 Reviews

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  • wha???

    I kinda got this book, but then I didn't. I didn't really get what the reader was saposed to take from the book and the random sex was weird. Also, I had no idea what the climax was.

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    Siouxi Silva said on Aug 7, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • A quick, enjoyable read despite what could be a very heavy subject-matter. I look forward to discussing the book with friends.

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    Antonia said on Apr 13, 2009 | 1 feedback

  • Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

    A strong coming-of-age story set during Mao's re-education campaign.

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    Readingrat said on May 28, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

  • Highly recommended! An "introduction" to what had happen when someone was re-educated in the Chinese Culture Revolution era.

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    xYang said on Jan 24, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

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ISBN Edition List Sale Seller
9780375413094 Hardcover $23.00 $19.66 bn.com
$23.00 $15.14 The Book Depository
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