Disease report

Author: Jia Pingwa
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Jia Pingwa, a renowned figure in Chinese literature: after years of silence, he strikes again in 2002! – This is not just a simple love story, but one rooted in the bleakness of life, the hardships faced by the nation and its people. The suffering of Hu Fang and Jiang Lan’s love stems from the fact that the era was ailing, society was sick, with each period having its own unique maladies. This is what the author seeks to report. It is, in essence, a tragic love story. The protagonists, Hu Fang and Jiang Lan, complete this story with their entire lives, yet it is a tale filled with hardship, tragedy, and desolation. It is like a radiant lotus blooming in a muddy pond. So, why is it titled "A Report on the Illness"? The suffering of Hu Fang and Jiang Lan’s love arises because the era was sick, and society was ailing. Over decades of China’s history, each period bore its own distinct maladies. This is the matter the author intends to report. The novel portrays a person’s life, employing a first-person narrative with alternating perspectives, fully showcasing the characters’ inner thoughts. Grounded in solid "facts," it articulates "opinions," lending the novel greater strength while preventing it from becoming monotonous. It fully depicts the grand backdrop of the era and society, as well as the luminous spotlight illuminating the dance of their love against this heavy backdrop. The author remains faithful to traditional and straightforward forms, yet the work transcends into a modern, humanistic expression. The bleakness of life and the coherence of the story leave us with a contemplation of the nation and its people’s past hardships and a celebration of the brilliance of life’s flowers. It is, in a sense, an "evil flower."