The Backstreets: A Novel from Xinjiang

The Backstreets is a novel by Perhat Tursun that follows an unnamed Uyghur man who finds a temporary job in a government office in Xinjiang and seeks to escape the pain and poverty of the countryside. The novel is a work of untrammeled literary creativity that draws on a vast array of canonical world writers and Uyghur literary traditions, combining them into a style that is distinctly Tursuns own. It is a stark fable about urban isolation and social violence, dehumanization, and the racialization of ethnicity, but its protagonists vivid recollections of maternal tenderness and first love reveal how memory and imagination offer profound forms of resilience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The Backstreets, a remarkable novel penned by a prominent contemporary Uyghur author, has a captivating storyline that unfolds against the backdrop of the Chinese state's disappearance. The narrative revolves around an unnamed Uyghur man who embarks on a journey to the enigmatic Chinese capital of Xinjiang after securing a temporary job in a government office. Driven by a desire to escape the hardships and poverty of his rural upbringing, he encounters a cold and unwelcoming city filled with rejection. Wandering through the streets accompanied by the bitter fog of winter pollution, he recites a mesmerizing monologue that blends numbers, odors, emotions, memories, and madness.

Perhat Tursun's novel is a testament to his unparalleled literary creativity. His evocative prose evokes a rich tapestry of canonical world writers, including contemporary Chinese authors like Mo Yan, as well as the modernist imagery and rhythms of Camus, Dostoevsky, and Kafka. He skillfully weaves these diverse influences into a unique style that is unmistakably his own, creating a literary masterpiece that defies categorization.

The Backstreets serves as a poignant fable that delves into themes of urban isolation, social violence, dehumanization, and the racialization of ethnicity. However, amidst the darkness, the protagonist's vivid recollections of maternal tenderness and first love reveal the profound resilience that memory and imagination can offer. A translator's introduction provides valuable context, situating the novel within the political atmosphere that ultimately led to the disappearance of both the author and his work.

Through its powerful storytelling and profound exploration of human experiences, The Backstreets offers a thought-provoking and deeply moving perspective on the complexities of contemporary life. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of literature to transcend boundaries and shed light on the hidden realities of our world.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231202916