When originally published in 1993, Ruined City (Fei Du) was promptly banned by China’s State Publishing Administration, ostensibly for its explicit sexual content. Since then, award-winning author Jia Pingwa’s vivid portrayal of contemporary China’s social and economic transformation has become a classic, viewed by critics and scholars of Chinese literature as one of the most important novels of the twentieth century. Howard Goldblatt’s deft translation now gives English-speaking readers their first chance to enjoy this masterpiece of social satire by one of China’s most provocative writers. While eroticism, exoticism, and esoteric minutiae—the “pornography” that earned the opprobrium of Chinese officials—pervade Ruined City, this tale of a famous contemporary writer’s sexual and legal imbroglios is an incisive portrait of politics and culture in a rapidly changing China. In a narrative that ranges from political allegory to parody, Jia Pingwa tracks his antihero Zhuang Zhidie through progressively more involved and inevitably disappointing sexual liaisons. Set in a modern metropolis rife with power politics, corruption, and capitalist schemes, the novel evokes an unrequited romantic longing for China’s premodern, rural past, even as unfolding events caution against the trap of nostalgia. Amid comedy and chaos, the author subtly injects his concerns about the place of intellectual seriousness, censorship, and artistic integrity in the changing conditions of Chinese society. Rich with detailed description and vivid imagery, Ruined City transports readers into a world abounding with the absurdities and harshness of modern life.

Ruined City: A Novel (Volume 5) (Chinese Literature Today Book Series)

Literature & Fiction

Jia Pingwa

Literary

University of Oklahoma Press

The Sojourn Teashop

Sinoist Books

Lantern is another surprise Jia Pingao brings to the literary world and readers. The work has not only maintained the authors art features, but also reached a new literary height. The protagonist of the novel is a female township cadre named "" lantern"", due to her primitive name ""Firefly"", which is like patrolling with a lantern in the darkness of night. The name also shows her fate: though she is desperately burning and illuminating, she is destined feeble. All are but dust to dust at the end.

Lantern (Chinese Edition)

Peoples Literature Publishing House

Shan Ben (Latest Novel of Jia Pingwa) (Chinese Edition)

Writers Publishing House

The old city of Xian leaves too many footprints of Jia Pingwa. The city under his pen is the place which provides knowledge of numerous ancient classics, bravery of supporting family, concept of the world and echo among folklores. To trace back this gorgeous city, the capital of 33 empires, he finishes the cultural journey with his 27 years of feelings, thoughts, search and discovery.

Old Xian (Chinese Edition)

China Social Press

In this prose collection of emotions, about 20 literature masters such as Jia Pingwa, Shen Congwen, Shi Tiesheng and Ji Xianlin use over 120 essays to memorize their family members, loved ones, respected teachers and loved friends, full of sorrow and sweetness. These sincere words are touching yet not desperate.

I Want to Be the One Who Describes Your Whole Life in Your Funeral (Chinese Edition)

Shen, Congwen

Ji Xianlin

Taihai Publishing House

Bean Sauce (Chinese Edition)

The Lantern Bearer (Chinese Edition)

Zhejiang Publishing House of literature and Art

White Night (Chinese Edition)

Changjiang Literature Press

Living in the World (Chinese Edition)

Short Stories & Anthologies

Lujiang Publishing House

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Books by Jia Pingwa