Peacock Cries

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the largest construction project in the history of China. These famous areas of natural beauty will have their height cut to one third by the Reservoir, which will submerge the whole area, the cradle of Chinese civilization for three millennia. Liu’s husband, Li Lusheng, is director of the Dam project, and is being unfaithful. Liu goes to visit him, and on finding out about his infidelity, flees in disgust to her old home, Liang, where protesters against the Dam persuade her to join them. There she is told the story of the crucifixion of Red Lotus, a prostitute, and a Buddhist priest, whose vilification is described in graphic detail. This book takes on the subjects of reincarnation and a spiritual quest in the face of economic development and provides a fascinating insight into the intricate details of Chinese life. Hong Ying surpasses her previous novel, K: The Art of Love , with a novel of political and sexual tensions.