Diane Wei Liang's work delves into the complex tapestry of human experience, often exploring themes of identity, belonging, and resilience forged through challenging circumstances. Her prose is characterized by its psychological depth and keen observation of societal pressures, drawing from a perspective shaped by profound personal history. Liang's narratives invite readers to contemplate the enduring strength of the human spirit and the search for meaning in a fractured world. Her unique voice offers a compelling lens through which to view both personal struggles and broader societal shifts.
Set against the backdrop of modern China's tumultuous history, this narrative intertwines the author's personal love story with significant events, including the Tiananmen Square protests. Diane Wei Liang crafts a compelling exploration of romance amidst political upheaval, offering a unique perspective on how personal and national histories intersect. Through her experiences, she reveals the complexities of love and identity in a rapidly changing society.
The author’s life journey is marked by significant historical events, including her childhood in a labor camp and participation in the 1989 Student Democracy Movement at Tiananmen Square. A graduate of Peking University and Carnegie Mellon University, she spent over a decade as a business professor in the U.S. and U.K. Now a full-time writer, she resides in London with her family, bringing a rich cultural and academic background to her work.
This gripping debut novel in a new mystery series features an unforgettable female detective in todays Beijing, whose search for a missing artifact leads her to discover the dishonorable secrets of her nation's culture-and her family's past.
Sullo sfondo della Pechino post-olimpica dei nostri giorni, una metropoli rumorosa e frenetica in cui ricchezza e povertà sembrano crescere a ritmo incalzante come le selve di grattacieli, il destino di Mei Wang, giovane detective privata, si incrocia con quello della potente famiglia Song, proprietaria della Casa dello Spirito Dorato, un’antica azienda farmaceutica che produce una pillola per guarire i cuori infranti. Ingaggiata dall’affascinante Wudan, avvocato del Sud che cura gli interessi della famiglia, e aiutata dal fidato collaboratore Gupin, Mei indaga sul complicato intreccio di interessi che sta erodendo la solidità finanziaria dell’azienda. Mentre le sue ricerche sono ostacolate dall’onnipresente e corrotta burocrazia cinese e dai suoi ispettori, che minacciano di far chiudere la sua agenzia, Mei si trova coinvolta in un intrigo che si tinge pericolosamente di giallo. Intanto, il tormentato rapporto con la madre e l’inevitabile confronto con la sorella Jin, celebre star televisiva, la costringono a stilare un difficile bilancio personale, tra le ferite, le ombre e i segreti di un passato famigliare segnato dal regime maoista, e l’instabilità della propria vita sentimentale e della relazione a distanza col fidanzato Yaping.
