Half a Lifelong Romance
Half a Lifelong Romance by Ailing Zhang, published by Penguin Books in 2014, is a poignant narrative set against the backdrop of 1930s Shanghai. This edition spans 376 pages and is presented in English. The story follows Manzhen, a young factory worker, and Shijun, the son of affluent merchants, as they navigate the complexities of love and societal expectations. Their relationship is tested by family complications and the passage of time, leading to a reunion after many years apart, raising the question of whether they can rekindle their romance.
Readers will find a rich exploration of enduring love and the challenges posed by family and tradition within this novel. The narrative offers insights into Chinese life during the early twentieth century, blending elements of romance and literary criticism. Ailing Zhang’s work invites reflection on the nature of relationships and the impact of societal pressures, making it a significant contribution to the genre of fiction and classics.
Official synopsis Publisher
From one of twentieth-century China’s greatest writers and the author of Lust, Caution, this is an unforgettable story of a love affair set in 1930s Shanghai.
Manzhen is a young worker in a Shanghai factory, where she meets Shijun, the son of wealthy merchants. Despite family complications, they fall in love and begin to dream of a shared life together – until circumstances force them apart. When they are reunited after a separation of many years, can they start their relationship again? Or is it destined to be the romance of only half a lifetime? This affectionate and captivating novel tells the moving story of an enduring love affair, and offers a fascinating window onto Chinese life in the first half of the twentieth century.
Eileen Chang was born in Shanghai in 1920. She studied literature at the University of Hong Kong but returned to Shanghai in 1941 during the Japanese occupation, where she established her reputation as a literary star. She moved to America in 1955 and died in Los Angeles in 1995.
Karen S. Kingsbury taught and studied in Chinese-speaking cities for nearly two decades, and currently lives in Pennsylvania, USA. She has translated Love in a Fallen City for Penguin Classics, as well as other essays and stories by Chang.
‘A giant of modern Chinese literature’ The New York Times
‘Eileen Chang is the fallen angel of Chinese literature’ Ang Lee
‘A dazzling and distinctive fiction writer’ New York Times Book Review
‘Chang’s world is a stark and mysterious place where people strive to find their way in love but often fail under the pressures of family, tradition, and reputation’ New Yorker
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