So in my opinion, on the strength a of this one book alone mo yan deserves the nobel prize for literature. But, the author mo yan got a nobel peace prize for his work. Though this is the first of mo yans novels to be translated into english, many americans know his work from the film red sorghum, winner of the silver bear at. A novel of china or red sorghum clan simplified chinese. A novel of china by mo yan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the chinese battle both japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s. The book, which is about the japanese invasion of china, scares the reader with the fact that mo yan was born and raised in one of the invaded places. A legend in china, where it won major literary awards and inspired the oscarnominated film, red sorghum is a book in which fable and history collide to produce fiction that is entirely new and unforgettable. The acclaimed novel of love and resistance during late 1930s china by mo yan, winner of the 2012 nobel prize in literature spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the chinese battle both japanese invaders and each other in the. Red sorghum by mo yan, 9780099451679, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jan 06, 20 red sorghum by mo yan when i read that mo yan was awarded the nobel prize for literature, i figured i should read one of his books. Inspired by mos 1997 novel red sorghum, which zhang yimou adapted into an awardwinning film, the government also plans to create a red sorghum culture and.
Red sorghum is a family saga with a broad historical sweep. This book is set primarily in the 1930s at the time of the japanese invasion of china, with all the horror and suffering that involved. About red sorghum the acclaimed novel of love and resistance during late 1930s china by mo yan, winner of the 2012 nobel prize in literature spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the chinese battle both japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s. Published in 1986, it was mos first novel and remains one of his bestknown works. About the author mo yan whose real name is guan moye was born in 1956 in shandong province in china. May 01, 2003 red sorghum is a frank and disturbing history of a period no one else has recorded in such detail and with such brutal nonjudgemental honesty. Some outside reading on chinese history and symbolism might help, because mo yan, like most chinese writers, uses a lot of allusions etc. A powerful new voice on the brutal unrest of rural china in the late 20s and 30s. Made into a very successful film by jiang yimou, red sorghum is packed with action, killings, guns, policemen, backstabbing, survival after neardeath experiences. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Mo yan draws inspiration for his works from the chinese culture and the environment he has been immersed in. In books red sorghum is the most wellknown work that plays a crucial role in mo yan s winning the nobel prize in literature. Oct 12, 2012 below are selections from the work of mo yan who was awarded the 2012 nobel prize in literature on thursday. I had never heard of him before he won the award, but hearing that his style of writing was dubbed hallucinogenic realism, it sounded right up my alley. The epic story spans three generations of a chinese family fighting to stay alive in the harsh climate of chinas northwestern province of shandong during the 1930s and 40s. A legend in china, where it won major literary awards and inspired an oscar nominated film directed by zhang yimou, red sorghum is a book in which fable and. Mo yan has written 11 novels, and several novellas and short story collections. Its a fictionalized account of a real family enduring the many changes, upheavals, etc in china over several decades. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 359 pages and is available in paperback format.
A legend in china, where it won major literary awards and inspired an oscarnominated film directed by zhang yimou, red sorghum is a book in which fable and. Oct 11, 2012 red sorghum npr coverage of red sorghum. Mo yan was born in 1956 in shandong, northeastern china. A novel of china or red sorghum clan is a chinese language novel by mo yan. The excerpt from red sorghum is reprinted by arrangement with penguin books, a. Mo yan has 128 books on goodreads with 67946 ratings. Mo yans debut novel and first us publication was the basis of a 1988 oscarnominated film. Oct 12, 2012 mo yans red sorghum village home may never be the same again there is talk of building a red sorghum theme park in pingan to mark his nobel triumph but they may need to start replanting. Red sorghum is the most wellknown work that plays a crucial role in mo yans winning the nobel prize in literature. The author of over forty short stories and five novels, he is the most critically.
A beautiful and unforgettable classic set in rural china from the nobel prizewinning author. Mo yan is the pen name of the chinese novelist guan moye, who is one of the most celebrated writers in the chinese language. The acclaimed novel of love and resistance during late 1930s china by mo yan, winner of the 2012 nobel prize in literature spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the chinese battle both japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s. It has been translated into more than 20 languages for the worldwide distribution.
Made into a very successful film by jiang yimou, red sorghum is packed with action, killings, guns, policemen, backstabbing, survival after neardeath experiences, deeds of heroism and betrayal, and. A legend in china, where it won the major literary awards and inspired an oscarnominated film, this is a novel of family, myth, and memory, set during the. At mo yans request, goldblatts translation was based on taipei hongfan book co. Mo yan literally dont speak is the pen name of guan moye.
Despite the social criticism contained in his books, in china he is viewed as one of the countrys foremost authors. Red sorghum penguin books, 1994 by mo yan is a historical novel that takes place in 192324 and the late thirties, during the war against japan. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are a. See all books authored by mo yan, including red sorghum, and life and death are wearing me out, and more on.
Spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told thro. Nonlinear storytelling, interspersed with flashbacks, filled with a wild imagination, a pageturning narration and a sharp language. The first edition of the novel was published in 1987, and was written by mo yan. Mo yans red sorghum village home may never be the same again there is talk of building a red sorghum theme park in pingan to mark his nobel triumph but they may need to start replanting. He started writing while he was serving in the peoples liberation army. This is a very graphic violent novel of chines between 19301970. Pdf red sorghum book by mo yan free download 359 pages. He published his first novel in 1981 and went on to achieve his international breakthrough with the novel red sorghum, which was later adapted for film. The acclaimed novel of ove and resistance during late 1930s china by mo yan, winner of the 2012 nobel prize in poetr spanning three generations, this adaptation of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the chinese battle both japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s. Jan 10, 2019 the red stands for several things passion, rage, bloodshed, nationalism, communism and violence themes that pervade throughout the book.
His bestknown novels in the west include red sorghum, which was made into an awardwinning film. Mo yans red sorghum village home may never be the same. I think of surpassingly beautiful scenes that will never again appear. Oct 23, 2012 inspired by mo s 1997 novel red sorghum, which zhang yimou adapted into an awardwinning film, the government also plans to create a red sorghum culture and experience zone in pingan. I asked the same question as i began reading red sorghum, the most famous novel by mo yan real name guam moye. Born in 1955 to a peasant family in shandong province, he is the author of ten novels including red sorghum, which was made into a feature film, dozens of novellas, and hundreds of short stories.
Red sorghum by mo yan meet your next favorite book. Mo yans red sorghum village home may never be the same again. Free download or read online red sorghum pdf epub book. Below are selections from the work of mo yan who was awarded the 2012 nobel prize in literature on thursday. I will also argue that mo yans red sorghum 1986 is especially valuable for probing the western response to his work and chinese literature, owing to the significance of this novel in his production overall, the books grand scope, and the western attention that the film red sorghum has already brought to the novel. At the end, yan is prepared to stake his book on the beauty of colour. His works include life and death are wearing me out, red sorghum, the garlic ballads, big breasts and wide hips, the republic of wine, and sandalwood death. A westerners reflection on mo yan world literature today. Through his fictional narrator in red sorghum, who is a product of the latter half of the 20th century, mo yan makes us all complicit in this particularly tragic history.