The Cook, the Crook, and the Real Estate Tycoon: a Novel of Contemporary China

Marc Notes: A darkly humorous novel of contemporary China. Liu Yuejin, a work site cook and small-time thief, searches for his stolen bag but finds another that contains a flash disk chronicling high-level corruption, which sets off a convoluted chase--; Provided by publisher. Review Quotes: 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 author s 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" 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""Biographical Note: Liu Zhenyun, author of six bestselling novels--I Did Not Kill My Husband sold 1.2 million copies--and 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 China's hot director, Feng Xiaogang. He is a graduate of Peking University's Chinese literature department. Review Quotes: 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) Publisher Marketing: "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 China s predatory capitalism, corruption, and the plight of the underclasses. A movie adaptation and TV series appeared in 2008 in China." Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2015 (EAN 9781628725209, Hardcover) Publishers Weekly 06/29/2015 (EAN 9781628725209, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Lin, Sylvia Li BI FEIYU, winner of the 2010 Man Asian Prize for Three Sisters, is one of the most respected authors and screenwriters in China today. He was born in 1964 in Xinghua, in the province of Jiangsu. A journalist and poet as well as a novelist, he has been awarded a number of literary prizes, including the Lu Xun Prize for 1995-96. He cowrote the film Shanghai Triad, which was directed by the acclaimed Zhang Yimou. Contributor Bio:  Goldblatt, Howard The team of HOWARD GOLDBLATT and SYLVIA LI-CHUN LIN have translated the work of virtually all the major Chinese novelists of the post-Mao era, and many from Taiwan and Hong Kong, in all more than 50 books. Just prior to and immediately following the announcement of the 2012 Nobel Prize, Goldblatt published two novels by the laureate Mo Yan: POW! and Sandalwood Death. Together they have received three translation awards from the NEA, and a number of prizes. They live in Boulder, Colorado.