Murder, gastronomy and poetry, Qiu Xiaolong is back, in China, during the Tang empire (618-907).

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Three books, two (1-3) by the novelist and poet Qiu Xiaolong and the third (4) by the sinologist Robert van Gulik, bring inspector Chen Cao, the favourite character of Qiu Xiaolong readers, into the Tang Empire (618-907) while investigating in Shanghai a murder committed by Min, a famous “private table hostess”.

Min recovered the family house after the Cultural Revolution; beautiful and cultured, an icon of the internet, she invites different personalities to private dinners … Lire la suite

“Do not cry Tai Lake” by Qiu Xiaolong.

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Originally published on Rue89, 05/07/2010.

 

 

 

Pollution by green algae is no promotion for tourism. This is true for some beaches in France,in Brittany, but also for Lake Tai. Only one hour by train from Shanghai, it is unlikely to be part of the tours offered to visitors of the Expo. This is what tells us  the latest novel by Qiu Xiaolong, the master of the Chinese detective story.

The city of Wuxi, north of … Lire la suite

Inspector Chen investigates the private life of Chairman Mao.

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Originally published on Rue89- 06/07/2008. 

 If you liked “Death of a red heroine”, you’ll love “The Mao Case”, just released. The author, the novelist Qiu Xiaolong, a Sino-American revisits the myth of Mao Zedong . He was kind enough to explain it, for the first time, during a telephone interview with Rue89.

The sixth investigation of the Inspector Chen Cao will take him from Shanghai to Beijing to investigate the private life of Chairman Mao … Lire la suite

Qiu Xiaolong, cop and poet in Shanghai.

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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 Mandarin Dress” takes us on the trail of a serial killer who traumatized the city, murdering beautiful creatures and leaving … Lire la suite