The Middle Kingdom

(Paperback)

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Description

A lyrical, moving novel of the choices and confusions that face a married woman whose understanding of herself explodes on first contact with the energies of China and a Chinaman.
Grace Hoffmeier is never quite sure where to invest her energies: in her dying marriage to star scientist Walter or in the possible affairs that flare so startlingly before her like fireworks; in her work or in her home; in things or in people; in the past or in the future.

On an eye-opening trip to a China that has ripped itself apart, yet again, at its very heart in Tiananmen Square, Grace finds with guidance from unexpected quarters that what you can choose between is not always your choice to make. The real China soon crackles into being before Grace; its fire and light illuminate for her paths old and new, and a new life in a new kingdom.

Reviews

'An exhilarating book wonderful and generous insights Ms Barrett has captured a truly authentic Beijing.' Amy Tan 'With The Middle Kingdom, Andrea Barrett further consolidates her position as one of our most thoughtful chroniclers of contemporary life The Middle Kingdom is another impressive milestone in what promises to be a long and fruitful literary journey by an accomplished American author.' Cleveland Plain Dealer 'Andrea Barrett does not flinch from large subjects, yet her uncanny investigations into human curiosity are sensual and soul-enhancing, and always underlit by splendid intelligence.' Howard Norman, author of The Bird Artist 'Her work stands out for its intelligence the overall effect is quietly dazzling.' New York Times

Author Bio

ANDREA BARRETT lives in Rochester, NY. She is the author of four novels, and a collection of stories, Ship Fever, which won the National Book Award in 1996 and received startling critical acclaim: 'The title novella is devastating: as with every story here, you enter right into it, and cannot entirely leave it behind.' New Yorker