661:
318:, the son of a writer and a poet, must wear thick glasses to compensate for his nearsightedness. He possesses a suitcase full of forbidden "reactionary" Western novels that the Narrator and Luo covet and eventually steal. He is referred to as a character who is accustomed to humiliation. He ends up leaving the mountain when his mother convinces the government to end his re-education early and gets Four-Eyes a job at a
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233:. The two boys fall in love with the Little Seamstress, the daughter of the local tailor and "the region's reigning beauty". Residents of the small farming village are delighted by the stories the two teenagers retell from classic literature and movies that they have seen. They are even excused from work for a few days to see
27:
630:
In the film adaptation, the narrator's name is Ma
Jianling (马剑铃). This is a connection to the original French version of the novel in which the narrator describes drawing three symbols that make up the characters in his name, a horse, a sword, and bell. Luo becomes Luo Ming (罗明), although there is no
265:
if they don't agree to find a solution to the headman's dental problems. The pair find a solution and turn the drill "slowly... to punish him". Later, the headman allows Luo to go home to look after his sick mother. While Luo is gone, the Little
Seamstress finds out that she is pregnant, which she
575:
Topics covered in the book—to do with the
Cultural Revolution—have been elaborated on and reviewed. Dai Sijie, as "an entertaining recorder of China's 'ten lost years'," addresses the Cultural Revolution. It is seen by some as "a wonderfully human tale" and relatable. The ending of the novel has
273:
The Little
Seamstress learns about the outside world by reading the foreign books with Luo's help. She eventually leaves the mountain and everything that she has known without saying goodbye, to start a new life in the city. Luo becomes inebriated and incinerates all of the foreign books "in
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states that the novel is "worthwhile, but unsatisfactory" and that the epithets for most of the characters "work against the material's power." In addition, the novel has received complaints from
Chinese government officials in its portrayal of the Cultural Revolution.
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565:
The novel has likewise been seen as an emotional tale. Jeff
Zaleski has reviewed Balzac as a "moving, often wrenching short novel". Dai Sijie has been praised as a "captivating, amazing, storyteller" whose writing here is "seductive and unaffected". In a
328:
is an old man who lives alone and is a repository of local folk songs. The Miller narrates one part of the novel and provides songs to the boys, who then relate them to Four-Eyes. He is one of the characters who chooses not to be involved with the
256:. After staying up all night reading the book, Luo gives the book to the narrator and leaves the village in order to tell the story to the Little Seamstress. Luo returns carrying leaves from a tree near where he and the Little Seamstress had sex.
586:, the conclusion is described as "unexpected, droll, and poignant". The story itself is seen as unprecedented, "not another grim ... tale of forced labor." Also popular, it has been described as a "cult novel", and was a bestseller in
547:
and has been praised for its clarity." The
Chinese version of the novel is available online. In 2001, this novel was also made into the film with Dai as its director. All the dialogue in the film uses the Sichuan dialect.
390:
addresses the themes, such as the "potency of imaginative literature and why it is hated and feared by those who wish to control others." This reviewer addresses the evil and ultimate failure of "any system that fears
543:" in 2000, and since then, rights of the book have been sold in nineteen countries. The English translation of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Ina Rilke was published by the company in 2001
335:, the father of the Little Seamstress and the only tailor on the mountain, is a rich and popular man. He is old but energetic and widely travelled. At one point in the story, the narrator recounts
504:". In order to do this, "hundreds of thousands of Chinese intellectuals to peasant villages for re-education", and within the years of "1968-1975, some twelve million youths were 'rusticated'."
737:
Bloom, Michelle E. "Contemporary Franco-Chinese Cinema: Translation, Citation and
Imitation in Dai Sijie's Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress and Tsai Ming-Liang's What Time is it There?"
341:
to him while he spends the night with the narrator and Luo. Through this experience, he gains a slight air of sophistication, and the story begins to influence the clothes that he makes.
246:. Although he is succeeding in re-education, he is also hiding a secret set of foreign novels that are forbidden by Chinese law. The boys convince Four-Eyes to let them borrow the book
266:
confides to the narrator. However, since the revolutionary society does not permit having children out of wedlock, and she and Luo are too young, the narrator must set up a secret
703:
688:
406:, with the novel showing how storytelling and censorship stand in opposition to each other, and how storytelling gives individuals power and knowledge despite censorship.
556:
The book received reviews related to its "warmth and humor." It has been stated as well that the novel "abound in gentle humor, warm bonhomie and appealing charm" in
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202:
500:"began in 1966 and continued until the dictator's death ten years later". The Cultural Revolution in China was "intended to stamp out the educated class and . . .
464:
is written in a characteristic style. The novel focuses and "accents on a soft center rather than ... hard edges", according to Josh
Greenfield of
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1289:
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The village headman, who has just had an unsuccessful dental surgery, threatens to arrest Luo and the narrator for harboring forbidden ideas from
298:, the daughter of a famous local tailor, is a rare beauty with no formal education who cannot read well, so Luo and the narrator read to her.
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in return for a book by Balzac, but ends up getting two books, Ursule
Mirouet and Jean Christophe, due to the main character's generosity.
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903:
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496:. This historical event helped to supply the framework for many of the conflicts faced in the novel. The Revolution of Chairman
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The book is the winner of several literary awards. The novel won five French literary prizes and was a best seller in 2000."
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217:, Luo, described as having "a genius for storytelling", and the unnamed narrator, "a fine musician". They are assigned to
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reference to his full name in the novel. In the Mandarin translation of the novel he is referred to by the narrator as
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The narrator mentions that western literature is banned and many forms of books and music have been altered to support
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350:, a man around forty, with "grizzled lanky hair sharp features," performs the Little Seamstress's illegal
304:, the leader of the village to which the narrator and Luo are sent for re-education, is a 50-year-old "ex-
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at a nearby town and later retell the story to the townspeople, through a process known as "oral cinema".
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cadre." One day, he blackmails Luo to fix his teeth in return for not sending the narrator to jail.
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to work in the coal mines and with the rice crop, because their doctor parents have been declared
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http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2011-05/balzac-and-little-chinese-seamstress-dai-sijie
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deals with the theme of cultural superiority and balance between varying cultural influences.
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McCall, Ian. "French Literature And Film In The USSR And Mao's China: Intertexts In Makine's
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received some positive attention. The ending has a "smart surprising bite" says a
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Cinematic Guerillas: Propaganda, Projectionists, and Audiences in Socialist China
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for her. Luo comes back to the village three months after this unexpected event.
1242:
926:
558:
829:
Watts, Andrew. "Mao's China in the Mirror: Reversing the Exotic in Dai Sijie's
535:
has been translated from the original French. The novel was first published in
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849:"Painful Truths: Revolution-era Fable Explores the Consequences of Knowledge"
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in the year 2000. However, there have been negative reviews. Brooke Allen of
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691:. Summary, glossary, setting and page-by-page illustrated notes in English.
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article, the novel is described as one that will resonate with the reader.
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751:
Chevaillier, Flore. "Commercialism and Cultural Misreading in Dai Sijie's
242:
Luo and the narrator meet Four-Eyes, the son of a poet, who is also being
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http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/balzac_and_the_seamstress1.asp
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700:. In French with English translation. Originally aired March 17, 2002.
472:
rather than names", adding to the relaxed writing style of the novel.
213:
The novel, written by Dai Sijie, is about two teenage boys during the
815:
Silvester, Rosalind. "Genre and Image in Francophone Chinese Works".
587:
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521:
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399:... and closes the mind to moral and intellectual truth" as well.
305:
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516:, and "spent the years between 1971 and 1974 in the mountains of
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stated that Balzac was a "slim first novel", and Brooke Allen at
368:
Critics have noted that the novel deals with the strength of
146:
221:
and are sent to a mountain called "Phoenix of the Sky" near
201:, and published in 2000 in French and in English in 2001. A
1159:"'Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress' by Dai Sijie".
468:. A vast majority of the characters in the narrative have "
773:, 1/2/2002, Vol. 119 Issue 1, p 37. Abstract available at
172:
808:
Schwartz, Lynne Sharon. "In the Beginning Was the Book."
1053:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (book review)"
384:
to free the mind." A book review by Brooke Allen in
286:, Teenage boy named Ma with a talent for the violin.
819:, Vol. 10, No. 4, December 2006, pp. 367–375.
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old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits
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1178:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Chinese"
1243:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002)"
1192:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002)"
1127:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (Book)"
931:"Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (book)"
812:, Sep/October 2001, Vol. 84 Issue 5, p. 23.
611:Dai Sijie directed and adapted his novel into a
8:
1120:
1118:
985:
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981:
979:
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787:." Romance Studies, Vol. 24 (2), July 2006.
380:said that the novel "emphasize the power of
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817:Contemporary French and Francophone Studies
31:One version of the front cover of the novel
1154:
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799:Artistic Odyssey: Film to Fiction to Film.
710:Interview with Dai Sijie from bacfilms.com
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446:Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
435:Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
416:Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
186:Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
16:Semi-autobiographical novel by Dai Sijie
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753:Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise.
831:Balzac et la Petite Tailleuse chinoise
785:Balzac Et La Petite Tailleuse Chinoise
205:directed by Dai was released in 2002.
191:Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise
51:Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise
7:
706:. Originally aired January 21, 2000.
488:is set during the time known as the
458:called the narrative "streamlined".
1163:. San Jose, Calif. 24 October 2001.
1095:Allen, Brooke (16 September 2001).
1212:Sorensen, Rosemary (29 May 2003).
739:Quarterly Review of Film and Video
695:Interview with Dai Sijie on NPR's
14:
1125:Allardice, Lisa (15 April 2002).
990:Greenfeld, Josh (11 March 2002).
769:Coltvet, Ben McDonald. Review in
757:Forum for Modern Language Studies
364:Power of education and literature
1295:French novels adapted into films
1051:Zaleski, Jeff (27 August 2001).
843:10.1179/174581511X12899934053284
673:
659:
645:
1290:French autobiographical novels
1137:(4583). New Statesman Ltd.: 56
1101:The New York Times Book Review
592:The New York Times Book Review
455:The New York Times Book Review
1:
639:Interviews and reading guides
615:, released in 2003, starring
410:Friendship and lost innocence
941:(2). Media Source, Inc.: 164
704:INA interview with Dai Sijie
855:, Sunday, October 28, 2001.
837:, 2011 Jan; 29 (1): 27–39.
759:, 2011 Jan; 47 (1): 60–74.
274:frenzy", ending the novel.
215:Chinese Cultural Revolution
1326:
732:New York Times Book Review
219:re-education through labor
896:Columbia University Press
825:10.1080/17409290601040346
747:10.1080/10509200590475797
722:Articles and Book Reviews
448:is notable for its size.
338:The Count of Monte Cristo
262:The Count of Monte Cristo
100:Published in English
24:
1285:French historical novels
793:10.1179/174581506x120118
781:Au Temps Du Fleuve Amour
1231:(subscription required)
1214:"Delightfully Delicate"
1166:(subscription required)
952:(subscription required)
853:San Francisco Chronicle
729:"A Suitcase Education."
203:film based on his novel
1097:"A Suitcase Education"
599:Awards and nominations
190:
178:PQ2664.A437 B3513 2001
73:autobiographical novel
1305:French bildungsromans
1161:San Jose Mercury News
697:All Things Considered
569:San Jose Mercury News
296:The Little Seamstress
741:, 22:311–325, 2005.
507:
430:Cultural superiority
414:The major themes of
227:enemies of the state
1300:Novels set in China
1280:Novels by Dai Sijie
1218:The Daily Telegraph
1063:(35). PWxyz LLC: 51
992:"A Twist on Balzac"
765:10.1093/fmls/cqq074
528:Publication history
520:". He emigrated to
490:Cultural Revolution
481:Cultural Revolution
302:The Village Headman
197:novella written by
47:Original title
21:
1310:Anchor Books books
1275:2000 French novels
803:The New York Times
734:, 9/16/2001, p 24.
387:The New York Times
376:. Jeff Zaleski of
1057:Publishers Weekly
805:, 7/27/2005, p 1.
771:Christian Century
689:Book Drum profile
583:Publishers Weekly
450:Publishers Weekly
378:Publishers Weekly
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359:Major themes
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212:
209:Plot summary
193:) is a semi-
185:
184:
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83:Anchor Books
50:
1259:Dai, p. 138
1141:23 November
1107:23 November
1067:23 November
1020:Dai, p. 164
996:Time Europe
971:Dai, p. 178
607:Adaptations
559:Time Europe
514:re-educated
466:Time Europe
329:revolution.
244:re-educated
1269:Categories
962:Dai, p.134
871:Dai, p. 19
860:References
810:New Leader
498:Mao Zedong
476:Background
420:friendship
382:literature
374:literature
333:The Tailor
326:The Miller
278:Characters
231:government
166:843/.92 21
69:Historical
57:Translator
1249:. Amazon.
880:Dai, p. 5
712:. French.
552:Reception
524:in 1984.
424:innocence
422:and lost
397:education
393:knowledge
370:education
320:newspaper
316:Four-Eyes
310:Communist
199:Dai Sijie
189:(French:
118:Paperback
79:Publisher
60:Ina Rilke
41:Dai Sijie
1224:15 March
1220:. Sydney
1196:AllMovie
1006:15 March
1002:(10): 55
945:15 March
625:Chen Kun
617:Zhou Xun
470:epithets
418:include
352:abortion
284:Narrator
268:abortion
153:46884190
114:Hardback
539:in the
229:by the
112:Print (
71:, Semi-
902:
635:(阿罗).
621:Liu Ye
588:France
537:France
522:France
116:&
37:Author
633:A-Luo
545:Knopf
494:China
441:Style
306:opium
223:Tibet
125:Pages
65:Genre
1247:IMDB
1226:2012
1143:2013
1109:2013
1103:: 24
1069:2013
1008:2012
947:2012
900:ISBN
623:and
613:film
395:and
372:and
345:The
147:OCLC
134:ISBN
104:2001
94:2000
1135:131
1061:248
1000:159
939:127
839:doi
833:."
821:doi
789:doi
761:doi
743:doi
492:in
404:Mao
290:Luo
252:by
128:184
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