Camel Xiangzi Àd¾m²»¤l
Written by Lao She, Translated by Shi Xiaojing
About the Book
Renowned for his
absurdist re-visioning of the world and experimentation with the techniques of
humour in his writings, Lao She has written about most major historical events
in modern China. In is masterpiece Camel Xiangzi, he reveals his prophetic
vision of the future of China. The novel depicts the life of Xiangzi, a young
rickshaw-puller in Beijing, who fails to improve his life no matter how hard he
works. When innocent people's hopes are destroyed, they are awakened to the
truth that they are but playthings of fate, which is a Chinese concept for the
unnameable in life's absurdities. The novel demonstrates the techniques of
bitter humour Lao She employs in his portrayal of characters, who are caught in
the endless social turmoil in the 1930s. The novel's socio-historical dimensions
have made it a widely used text for the cultural analysis of modern China.
About the Author(s) / Editor(s) / Translator(s)
Lao She (1899¡V1966) is
a master novelist and playwright famous for his re-visioning of China. Shi
Xiaojing, the translator, works for the Foreign Languages Press in Beijing.
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