Synopses & Reviews
The Cook, the Crook, and the Real Estate Tycoon by prize-winning Chinese novelist Liu Zhenyun is a novel of Beijing that paints a microcosm of contemporary China, dealing with classes at the two extremes: the super rich and the migrant workers who make them rich through deceit and corruption.
The protagonist, Liu Yuejin, is a work site cook and small-time thief whose bag is stolen. In searching for it he stumbles upon another bag, which contains a flash disk that chronicles high-level corruption, and sets off a convoluted chase. There are no heroes in this scathing, complex, and highly readable critique of the dark side of Chinas predatory capitalism, corruption, and the plight of the underclasses. A movie adaptation and TV series appeared in 2008 in China.
Review
Praise for
I Did Not Kill My Husband:
"Government fear of chaos is omnipresent in this expertly translated political farce . . . an intimate portrait of the local politics that matter so greatly in China." The New York Times
"A masterful tale that will make you laugh even as you despair . . . Wickedly subtle satire." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review
Praise for
The Cook, the Crook, and the Real Estate Tycoon:
"The power of this novel is derived, partly, from the sharp glance the author casts at the modern Chinese society, plagued by corruption, poverty, and injustice. The dark tale is lightened by the authors delicious humor. Liu Zhenyun is an outstanding storyteller. Lijia Zhang, author of Socialism is Great!
"Liu's fiction is a romp through modern Beijing that pits migrant workers from the provinces against billionaires and officials, making a wry statement about modern China and a thoroughly entertaining book." Kirkus Reviews
"An intricate, dark-hearted crime tale . . . The web of deceptions, double crosses, and betrayals Zhenyun builds into his ambitious, complex novel result in a rich depiction of the criminal underworld." Publishers Weekly
"Readers will enjoy this immersion in urban China and Lius rollicking-good send-up of modern-day predatory capitalism." —Booklist
Praise for I Did Not Kill My Husband:
"Government fear of chaos is omnipresent in this expertly translated political farce . . . an intimate portrait of the local politics that matter so greatly in China." The New York Times
"A masterful tale that will make you laugh even as you despair . . . Wickedly subtle satire." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A satirical tale that nimbly examines political corruption in China." Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Liu Zhenyun, author of six bestselling novelsI Did Not Kill My Husband sold 1.2 million copiesand born in 1958, is a native of Henan Province in northern China. His long and short fiction has won numerous prizes in China and Hong Kong and has been translated into several languages. Part of his popularity stems from the films based on his novels, including the blockbuster Cell Phone, all directed by Chinas hot director, Feng Xiaogang. He is a graduate of Peking Universitys Chinese literature department.