Book Review of Love in a Fallen City by Ailing Zhang
Name of Book: Love in a Fallen City Author: Ailing Zhang ISBN: (from Norton Anthology Vol F.) 0-393-97760-9 Publisher: Norton Company Type of book: China, 1940-1942? divorce, family, Hong Kong, love, overseas Chinese Year it was published: 1940s Summary: (from Norton Anthology Vol. F 2736) Love in a Fallen City begins with the heroine Liusu trapped in the relationships of the Chinese family. In her late twenties, Liusu has been divorced for seven or eight years; her ex-husband has just died, and his family wants her back for ritual purposes, to play the role of the grieving widow in the funeral ceremony and perhaps to adopt a son to carry on her ex-husband's family line...Liusu wants the security of a marriage, but on her own terms, and she invites teh attentions of a rich playbo, Liuyuan, who a matchmaker had arranged to meet her sister. Liusu dances with Liuyuan, who a matchmaker had arranged to meet her sister. Liusu dances with Liuyan at their first meeting...