A searing novel that traces the destruction of a community in communist China.
Told through the eyes of Xiao Qiang, a young boy, this deeply moving novel shares the tragic story of the blood-contamination scandal in China's Henan province.
Looking for a way to lift Ding Village from poverty, its directors and organisers open blood-plasma collection stations, hoping to sell the plasma to those in need. At first the scheme is a commercial success. Soon, however, whole communities are wiped out after contracting HIV. As Xiao narrates the fate of Ding Village, his family is torn apart by suspicion and retribution.
One of China's most successful fiction writers - New York Times
One of China's greatest living authors and fiercest satirists - Guardian
Yan Lianke denounces an alarming situation...his novel is a true revelation - Rolling Stone
A sorrowful but captivating novel about the price of progress in modern China... Resonates with the impact of Greek tragedy or Shakespearean drama - Kirkus Reviews
