The Book of Shanghai

Overview

As the end of the world arrives in downtown Shanghai, one man's only wish is to return a library book... When a publisher agrees to let a star author use his company's attic to write in, little does he suspect this will become the author's permanent residence... As Shanghai succumbs to a seemingly apocalyptic deluge, a man takes refuge in his bathtub, only to find himself, moments later, floating through the city's streets... The characters in this literary exploration of one of the world's biggest cities are all on a mission. Whether it is responding to events around them, or following some impulse of their own, they are defined by their determination—a refusal to lose themselves in a city that might otherwise leave them anonymous, disconnected, and alone. From the neglected mother whose side-hustle in collecting sellable waste becomes an obsession, to the schoolboy determined to end a long-standing feud between his family and another, these characters show a defiance that reminds us why Shanghai—despite its hurtling economic growth—remains an epicentre for individual creativity.

Author Biography

Chen Danyan is best known for her trilogy of biographical narratives: Shanghai Memorabilia, Shanghai Princess, and Shanghai Beauty. Xia Shang (born in Shanghai, 1969) is the author of the novels East Coast Chronicle, The Lazarus Child's Wandering, Taxidermist, and Bare Undead. Cai Jun is one of China's bestselling horror writers. Wang Anyi (born 1954) is the author of over 100 short stories, 40 novelettes, 10 novels, and various essays and prose pieces. Chen Qiufan (born 1981), also known as Stanley Chan, is a science fiction writer, columnist, and scriptwriter. Teng Xiaolan received the Lu Xun Literature Prize for her novella, A Beautiful Day. Dai Conrong is a Professor of Comparative Literature and World Literature at the Faculty of Chinese Language and Literature, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.