Selected Short Novels of Mo Yan

Author: Mo Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Regardless of whether the atmosphere of the story is magnificent and dazzling, absurd and ridiculous, or eerie and whimsical, Mo Yan's rich imaginative space and turbulent, flowing prose always leave people in awe—just as Zhang Da-chun said in his preface to Red Ears: "A thousand words cannot compare to Mo Yan!" After the peak of writing Red Sorghum, Mo Yan continued to seek breakthroughs, creating numerous short and medium-length works as well as several highly significant novels such as The Republic of Wine and Big Breasts and Wide Hips, among others. Many of his short story collections, such as Red Ears and The Legend of Mo Yan, were also released in Taiwan. Since most of his childhood was spent in the countryside, Mo Yan claims he has always been deeply influenced by folk tales and legends. The scenery and objects of his hometown, Gaomi, are precisely the source of his creative inspiration. The ghost stories that circulated in the countryside during his childhood also became material for many of his absurd novels. Thirteen Steps features mysterious South American magical realism, depicting a person's "transformation" with elegant language, bringing wave after wave of mystery. The Republic of Wine tells the story of a place renowned for its fine wine with romantic descriptions. Red Mangroves achieves a temporal and spatial shift in the subject matter of the novel and explores new methods of creation, marking a significant leap for himself.