{
    "id": 295953,
    "slug": "four-books",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "Four books",
    "subtitle": "Yan Lianke",
    "collection_title": null,
    "collection_part_number": null,
    "annotation": null,
    "description": "<p><b>'One of China's greatest living authors and fiercest satirists' <i>Guardian</i></b></p><p>In the ninety-ninth district of a sprawling labour camp, the Author, Musician, Scholar, Theologian and Technician are undergoing Re-education, to restore their revolutionary zeal and credentials.  In charge of this process is the Child, who delights in draconian rules, monitoring behaviour and confiscating treasured books.   </p><p>The inmates \u2013 and hundreds of intellectuals just like them -- must meet challenges set by the higher-ups: to grow an ever-spiralling amount of wheat per <i>li</i> of land, and to smelt vast quantities of steel. The stakes are high: they can win their freedom if they are awarded enough of the small red blossoms, medium red blossoms and pentagonal stars given out for effort, obedience and informing on others.     </p><p>But when bad weather arrives, followed by the \u2018three bitter years\u2019 of the Great Famine, the intellectuals are abandoned by the regime and left on their own to survive.  </p><p>Divided into four narratives, echoing the four texts of Confucianism and the four Gospels of the New Testament, <i>The Four Books </i>tells the story of one of China\u2019s most controversial periods. It also shows us the power of camaraderie, love and faith against oppression and the darkest possible odds.</p><p><b>YAN LIANKE</b><br />WINNER OF THE FRANZ KAFKA PRIZE 2014<br />NOMINATED FOR CZECH AWARD MAGNESIA LITERA 2014<br />HUA ZHONG WORLD CHINESE LITERATURE PRIZE 2013<br />FINALIST FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2013<br />WINNER OF THE HUA ZHONG WORLD CHINESE LITERATURE PRIZE 2013 <br />SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDEPENDENT FOREIGN FICTION PRIZE 2012<br />SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIX FEMINA ETRANGER 2012<br />SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZE 2011<br />WINNER OF THE LAO SHE LITERATURE AWARD 2004<br />WINNER OF THE LU XUN AWARD 1997</p>",
    "imprint": null,
    "language_code": "eng",
    "original_language_code": null,
    "page_count": 352,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": "2015-03-03",
    "publication_date_latest": "2015-03-03",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [
        {
            "isbn": "9780701186982",
            "product_form": "BC"
        }
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    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:11:53+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-11-04T00:23:09+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 4175,
        "slug": "random-house-uk",
        "name": "Random House UK",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:08:37+00:00",
        "updated_at": "2025-09-19T15:10:08+00:00"
    },
    "contributors": [],
    "genres": [],
    "subjects": [
        {
            "scheme_identifier": "32",
            "scheme_version": null,
            "main_subject": false,
            "subject_code": "300",
            "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:11:53+00:00",
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}