Description
In this darkly comic, sharply humane novel, Ximen Nao—a landowner celebrated for his kindness toward his peasants—finds his life pulled into a relentless collision of absurdity, cruelty, and fate. As his story unfolds, the book moves with Mo Yan’s signature blend of the grotesque and the lyrical, turning everyday realities into a surreal panorama where comedy and tragedy share the same breath. Through Ximen Nao’s shifting fortunes, the novel explores how power, tradition, and political upheaval shape ordinary lives, even as love and conscience keep flickering against the machinery of history. With its vivid characters and fearless tonal swings, it’s a compelling meditation on mortality and moral endurance—an unforgettable journey that leaves readers questioning what it means to live, and what it costs to survive.
Available Editions
paperback
Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
Published Jan 1, 2011
552 pages
ISBN: 9781628722499
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Details
First Published
2006
Language
eng
Translation
From: chi
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out by Mo Yan.