Books like Balzac and the little Chinese seamstress by Dai Sijie


During Mao's Cultural Revolution, two boys sent to re‑education camps uncover a hidden suitcase filled with 19th‑century Western literature. The discovery profoundly alters their perspectives and life paths, illustrating the transformative power of literature and friendship across cultural divides.
First publish date: 2002
Genre: Historical Fiction/20th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Dai Sijie
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0 (1 community ratings)

Balzac and the little Chinese seamstress by Dai Sijie

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