Roses and Thorns: The Second Blooming of the Hundred Flowers in Chinese Fiction, 1979-80

This collection presents stories from a brief period of relaxed controls on literature in China after the death of Mao Zedong, a short span that stands out for its especially frank expression. These stories offer an insight into contemporary social conditions in China while also being worthy of attention on the basis of literary merit. The translations emphasize natural English expression along with fidelity to the Chinese in order to represent fully the sensitive and incisive views of selected Chinese writers. Link's informative introduction explains the historical and political context within which the writers of the People's Republic of China work.