Balzac Dan Si Penjahit Cilik Dari Cina (Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress) (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
«Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise» (2000) est un œuvre impeccable où chaque mot a son importance et touche juste. Sur une histoire très simple (la découverte de l’amour par de jeunes gens), l’auteur Dai Sijie insère dans son récit de références à la situation en Chine de Mao. L’histoire se passe pendant la Révolution culturelle initiée au début des années 1970 et parle des conditions d’existence du peuple et de l’humiliation supportée par les intellectuels. Le conteur et son ami, qui en train de rééducation se retrouvent dans un petit village de paysans, reçoivent comme cadeau un roman de Balzac. Ensorcelés par la lecture, se résolvent ravir les livres restantes pour les déguster et ainsi instruire la fille d’un tailleur qui habite un village voisin, de qui les deux sont tombés amoureux.Ce roman est une promenade merveilleuse par Chine durant la Révolution culturelle à travers d’un rapport de la vie épuisante et ennuyante des jeunes déportés. Dans cet univers triste, la découverte de la féminité et de la littérature française se présente comme moyen de fuir au quotidien et à ses forces abasourdissantes. On peut dire que le roman est une réflexion sur la faculté des livres de nous ouvrir des portes sur l’univers en nous offrant une vision différente. Un excellent roman. This is the tale of two Chinese adolescents who were sent to be re-educated during the reign of Chairman Mao. The boys are sent to the remote village at the summit of the mountain named ‘Phoenix of the Sky’ and subjected to back-breaking labour at the hands of the Communist regime. But it is also a tale about growing up and finding out that the world is not fair. There are so many wonderful elements to this novel – not to mention the emphasis placed on the love of reading and storytelling – that finds this novel a place in my favourites list. On being exiled as intellectuals and children of prosecuted reactionaries, Dai and Luo are held at the mercy of their village headsman. They are forced to work as peasants away from all the comforts of their previous life. It is here that Luo’s gift for storytelling and Dai’s violin playing enchants the village so much that the two boys enjoy a modest reputation as entertainers around the mountain. This reputation leads to Luo’s seduction of the beautiful daughter of the tailor. Although her beauty is unparalleled, Luo critiques the little seamstress for her lack of sophistication and culture. But this is defiantly a tale of being careful for what you wish for - as the very literary masterpieces that bring Luo and Dai so much delight, lead to their sorrow. As for the little seamstress, she is forever changed by Balzac’s writing. This is truly a beautiful tale told through the eyes of the author. Once I started reading I was immediately enchanted. For those who are interested, the movie is also wonderful and directed by the author who gives cinematic justice to the majesty of the ‘Phoenix of the Sky’. This novel will stay with the reader long after the last page has been finished.
What do You think about Balzac Dan Si Penjahit Cilik Dari Cina (Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress) (2000)?
You can read this book in a lunch break. It's a great novel of awakening, particularly as it allows you to dip into another world and another time. Set during the Chinese revolution, and focussing on three characters (two of whom are going through 're-education', and a third who lives in an isolated mountainous Chinese village - the seamstress). It discusses how literature opens windows into worlds. I liked that it also had a moral to its story. You'll have to interpret it for yourself, I would not want to spoil it for you.
—Rashmi
هذه الرواية التي تعري الديكتاتورية في العهد الماوسيتونغي تنقل فظاعة الوضع آنذاك أفضل من عشرات كتب التاريخ!تعمدت أن أطيل فترة قراءتها... هي من الروايات التي ترتبط بها ولا ترغب في إنهائها... الأدب الصيني فعلا عالم مختلف!
—Chlobo
Sweet story. Made me want to learn more about this time in history.
—Derek
Beautiful descriptions of an ugly time in Chinese history
—ruby101
