Books from China
Writing from China spans classical poetry, dynastic epics, village sagas and modern thrillers. The books here come from traditions of poetry, memoir and fiction, and they carry settings that range from imperial pilgrimage routes to rural provinces and present day cities.
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Contemporary Fiction
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Red Sorghum by Mo Yan
A contemporary novel that is set in rural Shandong and follows a family across the upheavals of twentieth century China.
- White Deer Plain by Chen Zhongshi. A contemporary novel that portrays village life on the Guanzhong plain through the fates of two families.
- Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong. A contemporary novel that is set in Inner Mongolia and centres on the relationship between nomadic herders and wolves.
Mystery & Thriller
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Death Notice by Zhou Haohui
A mystery and thriller novel in which a police investigation follows a killer who announces each crime in advance.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en
A classic Chinese fantasy novel that follows the monk Xuanzang and his disciples, including Sun Wukong, as they travel west in search of Buddhist sutras.
Poetry
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Selected Poems of Du Fu by Du Fu
A collection of poems from a poet of the Tang dynasty whose work reflects war, exile and daily life.
Memoir & Nonfiction
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Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
A memoir that tells the story of three generations of women in her family in China.
How we choose
These lists start from books Atlas Unread readers can stamp for China. Each title and author is confirmed against Wikidata, Wikipedia or library records before it is listed.