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A Farewell: A Collection of Short Stories
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January 22, 2025
I had to think about what to say in this review because (full disclosure) I know the translator and knew (but not well) the writer. Bo Yang was probably one of the best Chinese short story writers of the 20th century. If you can find this volume around, those who are interested in contemporary China and Chinese literature will find it rewarding.
Bizarre anecdote: I was in Beijing many years ago in the "Friendship Store"--not to go into a long explanation, but these were stores where the official foreigners would go to buy things; and they were usually anything but friendly (visitors to China in the 80s and 90s will know what I mean). Anyway, I was walking down one of the aisles and saw a stand of paperbacks. This volume was one of them. I stopped dead in my tracks: wait a minute, is that my guy Robert? (The translator) I didn't recall he was working on this translation and didn't know the book had come out.
Robert: you should do more translations!
Bo Yang brings an unusual perspective to stories about Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, since he was a mainlander who emigrated to Taiwan, as did millions of others, after the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. Most literature by those people is not available in English. Short stories, however, comprise only a small part of this author's work, as he has done many commentaries on histories, etc.
Because on the mainland and in Taiwan any writer is always a political figure (meaning: in peril--I won't go into this now), Bo Yang is frequently considered controversial. I'll say no more for the moment. Read these stories and see what you think.
Enjoy!
Bizarre anecdote: I was in Beijing many years ago in the "Friendship Store"--not to go into a long explanation, but these were stores where the official foreigners would go to buy things; and they were usually anything but friendly (visitors to China in the 80s and 90s will know what I mean). Anyway, I was walking down one of the aisles and saw a stand of paperbacks. This volume was one of them. I stopped dead in my tracks: wait a minute, is that my guy Robert? (The translator) I didn't recall he was working on this translation and didn't know the book had come out.
Robert: you should do more translations!
Bo Yang brings an unusual perspective to stories about Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, since he was a mainlander who emigrated to Taiwan, as did millions of others, after the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. Most literature by those people is not available in English. Short stories, however, comprise only a small part of this author's work, as he has done many commentaries on histories, etc.
Because on the mainland and in Taiwan any writer is always a political figure (meaning: in peril--I won't go into this now), Bo Yang is frequently considered controversial. I'll say no more for the moment. Read these stories and see what you think.
Enjoy!
Displaying 1 of 1 review