Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
This novel tells the story of two teenage boys sent to a remote mountain village for re-education during China's Cultural Revolution. There, they meet a local tailor's daughter, who becomes their friend and the object of their shared affection. The boys discover a hidden suitcase filled with forbidden Western classics in Chinese translation, and their lives are forever changed. The books not only awaken their passion for literature, but also allow them to educate the Seamstress, ultimately leading to a heartbreaking love triangle and a tale of personal freedom against the odds.
The 2354th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 2000
- Nationality
- Chinese
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 176-192
- Original Language
- French
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.5)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Balzac Och Den Kinesiska Lilla Skrädderskan
- Balzac Und Die Kleine Chinesische Schneiderin
- Balzac a malá čínská švadlenka
- Balzac e a Costureirinha Chinesa
- Balzac e a Pequena Costureira Chinesa
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 6 lists:
- 12th on Top 25 Best Fiction Books on China: Understanding Contemporary China through Modern Literary Fiction (What’s on Weibo)
- 13th on 20 Best Chinese Fiction Books of the 20th Century (Time Out Beijing )
- 40th on Top 100 World Literature Titles (Perfection Learning)
- 77th on Current’s 100 Books of the 21st Century (Current)
- 566th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Bigger Read List (English PEN)