To Live
China

To Live

by Yu Hua

Family & Heritage Historical Fiction Classics Fiction 1993

Summary

To Live follows Fugui, the son of a wealthy Chinese landowner whose reckless gambling eventually costs his family its fortune. Forced to abandon his privileged lifestyle, Fugui begins a difficult journey through decades of political and social upheaval in twentieth-century China, including the Chinese Civil War, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. As the country undergoes profound transformations, Fugui and his family struggle to survive poverty, political persecution, and personal tragedy.

Told through Fugui’s recollections to a travelling folk singer, the novel offers an intimate portrait of ordinary people caught in the forces of history. Despite repeated losses, Fugui continues to endure, finding meaning in the simple act of living. Yu Hua combines stark realism with moments of dark humour and tenderness, exploring family bonds, resilience, and the fragility of human happiness. Ultimately, To Live is a moving reflection on suffering and survival, suggesting that the determination to continue can itself become a form of courage.

Reviews

Login to leave a review.

No reviews yet. Be the first!

You might also like

The Lotus Shoes
The Lotus Shoes
Jane Yang
Shanghai
Shanghai
Joseph Kanon
The Expat
The Expat
Hansen Shi
Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden
Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden
Zhuqing Li
Country
China
Asia
About the author
Yu Hua
Yu Hua

Yu Hua is a celebrated Chinese novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Chinese literature. Born in 1960 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, he initially worked as a dentist before turning to writing in the 1980s. His early work was associated with avant-garde fiction, characterized by experimental storytelling and psychological intensity. He later became internationally renowned for novels that combine dark humour, emotional depth, and unflinching depictions of violence and social upheaval. His best-known works include To Live, a moving account of an ordinary man’s survival through decades of political and personal tragedy, and Chronicle of a Blood Merchant, which explores family, sacrifice, and endurance in modern China. Through intimate human stories, Yu Hua examines the impact of historical change on ordinary people, exposing both the cruelty and resilience of the human spirit. His works have been translated into numerous languages and adapted for film, bringing Chinese history and society to readers worldwide.

View author page
Details
Published
1993
Author
Yu Hua