Spanning some forty years, from the Communist Civil War through the Cultural Revolution, this acclaimed Chinese novel follows the life of Fugui, the spoiled son of a wealthy landlord, as he squanders his family's fortune, takes up a career as a puppeteer, loses his wife and children to the ravages of famine, and is transformed into a simple peasant. Original. 17,500 first printing.
After squandering his family's fortune in gambling dens and brothels, the young, deeply penitent Fugui settles down to do the honest work of a farmer. Forced by the Nationalist Army to leave behind his family, he witnesses the horrors and privations of the Civil War, only to return years later to face a string of hardships brought on by the ravages of the Cultural Revolution. Left with an ox as the companion of his final years, Fugui stands as a model of flinty authenticity, buoyed by his appreciation for life - sheer life - in this unforgettable narrative of humbling power.
