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China Vignettes: An Inside Look at China

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* Offers readers a compelling glimpse into the complexity and richness of daily life in China
* Showcases thirteen short stories from promising new Chinese authors

Citizens of the world are familiar with the myriad changes that are buffeting tradition-based China. But what do these changes really mean to the people within the country’s borders?

Chinese life at a household level is captured in this new book, which seeks out and shares with the reader the lived experience of everyday people, from coast to interior, city to countryside, and across the widening income divide. This book interviews thirty Chinese men and women from different walks of life and from different regions. Interviewees provide their household budget, a typical daily chronology, and they share a sense of each day’s pressures and priorities.

In addition, thirteen well-known Chinese writers, commissioned by editors at Rongshu Publishing, have contributed short stories presenting daily life from the points of view of different ages, genders, professions, income levels and life situations. Essays by well-known Chinese sociologist Deng Weizhi and political scientist Cao Peilin complete the book. The text is supplemented with some 150 black-and-white photographs and a set of nine tables and charts.

With contributions Yu Wen-Xin, Wang Xiao-shan, Gao Jia, Old Cat, Xie Zheng-Yi, Jiang Fang Zhou, Xiao Yi, Lin Chang-Zhi, An Chang-He, Liu Fang, You Fan, Enya, Liu Tong, Deng Weizhi and Cao Peilin.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

28 people want to read

About the author

Dominic Barton

11 books3 followers

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Florian.
25 reviews4 followers
July 19, 2015
An easy read for times when you don't feel like picking up the heavy literature. For the price, I expected a little more text and maybe some insights from Dom Barton himself. In the end it is a nice story book, but don't expect to learn a lot. Pick it up second hand.
Profile Image for Robert.
33 reviews18 followers
August 22, 2022
A bunch of interviews with mainland Chinese folks of a variety of ages and backgrounds from ~15 years ago. The difference between China then vs now is quite stark so probably only useful now for someone trying to get a feel for China during its rise pre-Xi Jinping.
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