Originally published on Rue89-03/19/2008. The history of capitalism in China from its beginnings to the present period is marked by the accidents and events of history but also by surprising elements of continuity. This is shown by a very well informed book published by Marie-Claire Bergere, a professor at the “INALCO” and the “Ecole des…
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Originally published on Rue89-02/22/2008 – No, despite its title, “A Concise Chinese-English dictionary for lovers”, is not a book to offer for Valentine’s Day or a version, for linguists, of the Kama Sutra, but the latest book by the Chinese novelist Guo Xiaolu, whom we could meet in Paris. Guo Xiaolu was born thirty-five years…
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Originally published on Rue89- 02/02/2008 – The “Straits Chinese” are born in Malaysia and Singapore with families who have migrated in successive moves since the 15th century from the southern provinces of China, mainly from Fujian. The families of our two authors are more recent immigrants who have not benefited from the Malay cultural mix.…
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Originally published on Rue89-01/22/2008. When a poor Chinese peasant is unfortunate with six girls (“chopsticks”, fragile and of little use to their family), he will regret all his life not to have a “beam”, a boy that can support the family roof. Chinese writer Xinran, shows that the rapid changes in China may upset traditional…
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Originally published on Rue89.com-12/29/2007 – Shrug of shoulders, condescending looks, these are the reactions that may create the mention of Chinese martial arts novels.The release two months ago one of masterpieces of the genre, “Tiger and Dragon” by Wang Dulu in the elegant translation of Solange Cruveillé leads to a more subtile evaluation. The origins…
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Originally published on Rue89-12/11/2007- Highly praised by the American press, the publication in October of the latest novel by Chinese American writer Ha Jin, shows a new development. “A free life”, not yet translated into French, is indeed the first work of its author taking place in the United States and not in China. This…
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Originally published on Rue89, 21/11/2007. . Mo Yan is probably one of the most important Chinese writers today, certainly a possible “Nobel”. The release of “Joy” allows us to understand better his world. He is very close to his hero, nicknamed Yongli, “Eternal Happiness”. Son of poor peasants in Shandong as the author, Yongli dreams…
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Originally published on Rue89-10/12/2007 – The “Trilogy of Love”, a set of three novels, published in 1986-1987, by Wang Anyi gave rise at the time to some emotion and harsh criticism because it was the first time that sex was mentioned, although timidly, in contemporary Chinese literature. The second of these novels, translated into English…
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First published on Rue89,02/10/2007 The fifth investigation of Chief Inspector Chen Cao brings us to Shanghai just a few years ago. A detective novel, no, a political novel about power, real estate corruption and the trauma of the Cultural Revolution. “Silk and blood” by Qiu Xiaolong (Editions Liana Levi, 2007), translated from the original “Red…
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Originally published on Rue89-09/18/2007. “Lust, caution”, a film by Ang Lee, the Taiwanese film director, well known for his previous films (“Sense and Sensibility,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) has just obtained the Gold Lion in Venice. Many comments in the United States where the film faces a ban to minors, and in China,…
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