Missives from the Masses

Missives from the Masses is a collection of short stories by Su Tong that explores the lives of ordinary people in China's turbulent economic rise. The stories are darkly humorous and strange, featuring characters such as the girl in the window and the undertaker with cursed hands. Qianmei's cancer is terminal, and she has spent a lifetime writing complaints to superiors about the failings of colleagues and neighbors. When she is visited by the victims of past petitions, she regrets writing them, but there is still time to make amends.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 23 February 2024
Publisher: ACA Publishing Limited

Missives from the Masses is a collection of short stories by award-winning author Su Tong, exploring the darkly humorous and strange lives of individuals living in China during its turbulent economic rise. The protagonist of the story, Qianmei, is diagnosed with terminal cancer and is aware that everyone except her knows it. Throughout her life, she has dedicated herself to serving the people by penning numerous complaints to superiors about the failings of colleagues and neighbors, no matter how small. However, being confined to bed rest in a hospital presents her with new targets for her writing.

As her family and doctors work on delivering the bad news, Qianmei is visited by the victims of her past petitions. Faced with the consequences of her words, she begins to question whether she regrets writing them. After all, regardless of how many letters she might have reached the higher powers, there is always time to make amends, right?

The story explores the themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of speaking truth to power. It also sheds light on the lives of ordinary people who are forced to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing society. Through its darkly humorous and strange accounts, Missives from the Masses offers a unique perspective on the human experience in China during this period of economic growth.

Overall, Missives from the Masses is a thought-provoking and entertaining collection of short stories that will leave readers with a deeper understanding of the complexities of modern China.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838905651