Ailing Zhang Knihy

Kniha novel a povídek významné moderní spisovatelky Eileen Chang (1920 – 1995) zavádí čtenáře do kosmopolitní Šanghaje a Hongkongu první poloviny minulého století, kde v rezidenci starého rodu Ťiang žije ve zlaté kleci pološílená Čchi-čchiao, krásná mladá vdova Liou-su zápasí se společenskými předsudky o naději na lásku a nový život, v tramvaji se náhodně setkávají bankovní úředník a mladá učitelka a zažívají krátký románek, nebo kde se osnuje plán Mata Hari za cílem zneškodnit zrádného kolaboranta s japonským okupantem. Tvorba Eileen Chang se vyznačuje přirozeným prolínáním tradičního a moderního, vysokého a nízkého, čínského a západního, ráda užívá motivů známých z tradičních čínských vyprávění i divadla a zároveň je pro ni jakožto moderní autorku typický zájem o vnitřní svět hrdinů a hrdinek, za osobním příběhem se ozývají témata své doby. Vychází v edici Xin. Edice postupně představí výrazné osobnosti moderní čínské literatury, které jsou českému čtenáři často naprosto neznámé.

This novel portrays the horror and absurdity that the land-reform movement brings to a southern village in China during the early 1950s. Contrary to the hopes of the peasants in this story, the redistribution of land does not mean an end to hunger.

Shanghai, 1930s. Shen Shijun, a young engineer, has fallen in love with his colleague, the beautiful Gu Manzhen. He is determined to resist his family’s efforts to match him with his wealthy cousin so that he can marry her. But dark circumstances—a lustful brother-in-law, a treacherous sister, a family secret—force the two young lovers apart. As Manzhen and Shijun go on their separate paths, they lose track of one another, and their lives become filled with feints and schemes, missed connections and tragic misunderstandings. At every turn, societal expectations seem to thwart their prospects for happiness. Still, Manzhen and Shijun dare to hold out hope—however slim—that they might one day meet again. A glamorous, wrenching tale set against the glittering backdrop of an extraordinary city, Half a Lifelong Romance is a beloved classic from one of the essential writers of twentieth-century China.

The book presents a captivating narrative rooted in Chinese culture, exploring themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern life. Through rich character development and vivid storytelling, it delves into the struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating their heritage while confronting contemporary challenges. The author's unique perspective offers readers a profound insight into the intersection of past and present, making it a compelling read for those interested in cultural exploration and personal growth.

The book is part of the New York Review Books Original series, known for its curated selection of literary works. It features a unique narrative that explores themes of identity, culture, and the human experience. The writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, offering readers a fresh perspective on familiar subjects. With its rich character development and intricate plot, it invites readers to delve into a world that is both relatable and profoundly impactful.

'Dead, she was his ghost' A gripping, intensely atmospheric story of love, espionage and betrayal in wartime Shanghai, Lust, Caution is accompanied here by four more shimmering tales of Chinese life.

From the beloved award-winning author of Native Speaker and The Surrendered, a highly provocative, deeply affecting story of one woman's legendary quest in a shocking, future America

A best-selling, autobiographical depiction of class privilege, bad romance, and political intrigue during World War II in China. Now available in English for the first time, Eileen Chang’s dark romance opens with Julie, living at a convent school in Hong Kong on the eve of the Japanese invasion. Her mother, Rachel, long divorced from Julie’s opium-addict father, saunters around the world with various lovers. Recollections of Julie’s horrifying but privileged childhood in Shanghai clash with a flamboyant, sometimes incestuous cast of relations that crowd her life. Eventually, back in Shanghai, she meets the magnetic Chih-yung, a traitor who collaborates with the Japanese puppet regime. Soon they’re in the throes of an impassioned love affair that swings back and forth between ardor and anxiety, secrecy and ruin. Like Julie’s relationship with her mother, her marriage to Chih-yung is marked by long stretches of separation interspersed with unexpected little reunions. Chang’s emotionally fraught, bitterly humorous novel holds a fractured mirror directly in front of her own heart.

Eileen Chang's collection features previously untranslated stories and essays that span her career, beginning in 1940s Shanghai and tracing her journey through Cold War migrations to Hong Kong and the U.S. It includes notable works like "Classmates Then All Successful Now," which explores her life through complex time frames, and "Flowers Adrift, Blossoms Afloat," where a young woman contemplates her connection to her homeland while crossing a bridge, symbolizing the passage of time and cultural transition.

Die fünf brillanten Erzählungen von Eileen Chang spiegeln die Umbruchzeit der 40er Jahre in China wider und thematisieren das Leben von Frauen, die zwischen rigider Familienmoral und dem Streben nach Selbstbestimmung navigieren. In der bekanntesten Geschichte muss eine Frau entscheiden, ob sie die Zwänge einer arrangierten Ehe oder die vermeintliche Freiheit des Konkubinats akzeptieren will. Qiqiao, eine mittellose, aber schöne Frau, steht im China der Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts vor der Wahl: das goldene Joch einer arrangierten Ehe oder das Leben als Konkubine. Sie heiratet in die wohlhabende Jiang-Familie, muss sich jedoch mit einem bettlägerigen Ehemann abfinden, den sie verachtet. In ihrer Einsamkeit verliebt sie sich in ihren attraktiven Schwager. Gefangen in der strengen Familienordnung und den Gehässigkeiten ihrer Verwandtschaft sucht sie Trost im Opium. Qiqiao zerbricht an den Widersprüchen ihrer Zeit, in der das Versprechen der Selbstbestimmung gegen die rigide Moral und das konfuzianische Familienideal steht. In dieser und vier weiteren Erzählungen erweckt Chang das sich wandelnde Shanghai der 40er Jahre zum Leben. Ihr psychologisches Gespür und sprachliches Geschick sind überwältigend und machen diese Erzählungen zu einem Höhepunkt der chinesischen Literatur.