The Four Books

Yan Lianke · b. 1958 · China

Originally Sishu (Chinese) · translated by Carlos Rojas

Why it matters

Intellectuals sent to a re-education camp during the Great Leap Forward compete for freedom by informing on each other. A harrowing, formally inventive account of famine and ideological terror, banned in mainland China.

At a glance

Four interleaved documents in different registers, including scripture-like parody.