Heroic Era (Complete Collection of Mao Dun Literature Prize Winning Works)

Author: Liu Jianwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-03-01
Features: This is the latest full-length novel released by Liu Jianwei. With a keen eye, diverse perspectives, and a forward-looking stance, the author portrays a group of characters who believe, "We are destined to encounter such an era." These individuals embody the distinct characteristics of their time and possess heroic qualities in our era. In the context of China's transforming social structure, they face, struggle with, and pursue entirely new challenges unprecedented in history. Figures like Shi Tianxiong, Lu Chengwei, and Wang Chuanzhi depict the conflicts, friction, and compromises between power and profit, ethics and rules, as if unfolding right before our eyes in the window of our time, leaving readers deeply moved with a mix of joy and sorrow.
In the novel, the characterizations of Lu Chengye and Wang Chuanzhi are particularly successful. Both are top executives of large state-owned enterprises, but as they transition from the omnipotence of the planned economy era to the uncertainties of the market economy, their heroism suffers a fatal blow. One makes decisions that push the company to the brink of bankruptcy, while the other faces a gradual decline due to mismanagement.
Against a somber backdrop, the novel presents readers with major themes of the era, such as how state-owned enterprises should navigate reforms and how they should address privatization. It does so with authenticity and vividness, prompting deep reflection. Beyond this, the author skillfully reveals the many facets of human nature within this grand historical context, allowing us to see that even as heroes, these characters share the same emotional depth as ordinary people.