Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
The Privilege of Books
In continuation of Chinese week and Mao Tse Tung’s (aka Mao Zedong) tyrannical rule, I would like to recommend a short and poignant book that follows the Great Chinese Famine of 1958-1961 which Lisa See brought to light in Dreams of Joy.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie relates the story of two boys during Mao Tse Tung’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). In this political/social revolution, intellectuals including scientists, writers, engineers, physicians, and other educated people posed a threat to the government. They, along with anyone in opposition to the government, were persecuted, publicly humiliated, harassed, imprisoned, and even tortured. Schools were closed, books were banned, and youth were exiled to the peasant mountainous regions to be “re-educated.”
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie relates the story of two boys during Mao Tse Tung’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). In this political/social revolution, intellectuals including scientists, writers, engineers, physicians, and other educated people posed a threat to the government. They, along with anyone in opposition to the government, were persecuted, publicly humiliated, harassed, imprisoned, and even tortured. Schools were closed, books were banned, and youth were exiled to the peasant mountainous regions to be “re-educated.”
In this book two boys, who are working in the mountains, discover
that one of the workers in another village has a secret suitcase full of
books. They set about on a quest to obtain the banned books. Once they have
them, the world opens up to them again with the writings of Balzac’s Père Goriot, The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas, and other classics. One of the boys begins reading the stories to a
little seamstress. Both boys are attracted to her, but Luo soon wins her heart.
Though the circumstances the boys live in are oppressive, the book
is not. This book is a quick read with gentle humor and compelling storyline
will keep you turning pages. As I have mentioned before, historical fictions often teach me more than a history class. Cultural Revolution? Re-education? Before this book, I don't remember any of that from school. My ignorance knows no bounds. Thank goodness for historical fictions; they revive the brain cells just a little bit. This book was an eye-opening lesson where I realize how lucky we are in many
ways, one of them the privilege and access to books.
Happy Reading!
Annette
Happy Reading!
Annette
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