Short stories
春桃
Not translated into English
Xu Dishan · 1934
Synopsis
In Beijing in the thirties, Chuntao makes a living collecting old paper; Liu Xianggao helps her resell the ones that have value, and they share the same lodging. Her husband, Li Mao, had been separated from her in the flight and had joined the army. One day, she finds him again: he has lost both legs fighting the Japanese. Chuntao takes him in at her home, and three people must now live under one roof.
Context
Written in 1934, the story was included the following year in a collection from the Shenghuo publishing house, according to the Chinese Writers Association. A study in The Paper sees in it the portrait of a “great woman”, who gives without expecting anything in return and for whom life together counts more than passion; the author writes there that love is only a sensation and that life is reality. In 1988, Ling Zifeng made a film of it, with Liu Xiaoqing in the title role. No French translation has been found.
Who it is for
A short story, to be read in one sitting; in French, the author is known only through two children's picture books published in 2008.
Prizes and reception
The author's official biographical note cites it among his stories that depict energetic and good-hearted women of the people.
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