Rickshaw Boy: A Novel

Written in 1937 a sad long tale about a young man from the country who goes to Beijing to dream and become a Rikshaw driver and the owner of a Rikshaw. The writing is relentless in its depiction of life and the struggles of the poor, in the seamier sides of the new metropolis. Mandarin is a beautiful and poetic language, but the present translation with its American slang deflects from the beauty of the original language. Shen Congwen's book Border Town, for example, published a few years earlier, in 1934 is richer and in its translation as are Congwen's short stories. None the less Rikshaw Boy is worth reading.

Lao She's brilliant but painful work is made thoroughly and accurately accessible to English speakers with this excellent translation.It's a tough read as we watch Xiangzi fall into one disaster after another, coupled with some tragically bad decisions on his own part. But the pain reveals much about the reality of those who are trapped economically and can't find a reliable path to prosperity in spite of bitterly hard work. However, I think Lao She has embedded a message of hope within the despair, as there were lucky things that came to Xiangzi (his name means lucky) and even the hope of the key blessing that could have transformed him and that neighbor girl, Fuzi (the Fu means blessing or fortune in the Chinese). Had he accepted and held onto the gifts he was given, had he been a little more patient or a little more wise, and especially had he been a little less selfish, there was greater hope all along, in spite of the injustices inflicted by others. Perhaps or perhaps not---in any case, it's a much deeper book than some might think and one worthy of much reflection.Lao She is one of China's great writers and one of the greats in world literature. This book deserves to be read by much wider audiences.

Lao can be considered one of the great writers of modern China. His witty, thoughtful and inspiring look at the life of a rickshaw driver at the turn of the 20th century offers critical insight into why the Chinese Revolution happened as well as insight into how the poor perceive their own oppression, Lao's characters are charming, well written and his plot explores the everyday life of the Chinese people.Overall I found this to be an interesting book

Wonderful read-- fast-paced, exquisitely developed characters, and a glimpse into another time in another culture. Yet as testament to in the universality of this great writer some of the issues including cultural repression and the plight of the world's poor still obtain today.

Beautifully written. Gives a vivid picture of a society none of us will ever experience.Heartbreaking.

This is a classic of Chinese literature. It tells the story of Hsiang Tzu, who aspires to own a rickshaw and the very hard work and planning it takes to purchase one.. Set in Peking during the 1930s, it captures the physical, cultural, and political environment of that period. This is a sad, enlightening, memorable book.

Both a great thought piece and a great Chinese culture read. I think part of this mindset is visible in Chinese adults today, and the ending gave me a lot of thoughts to digest

N O. S P O I L E R SI was immediately drawn into the book and could not put it down. If you are doubtful about purchasing the book I say it is well worth the purchase. This is a book I will read again sometime in the future.

it was the book we were looking for

This was a classic, honest purchase. Good price. Prompt service. Just what the doctor ordered!!

Beautiful story. A classic novel in China 🇨🇳

No wonder it is the best translated version of this great Chinese novel

Brilliantly written story about a simple man struggling against life and fate and how he copes. Best novel I have read in the past twelve months.