Hard Lives, Big Dreams

Now Jia Pingwa’s novel Gaoxing has its English version — Happy Dreams. Published in 2007, the book describes the bitter experience of a migrant worker named Liu Gaoxing, who comes from the countryside and lives in a city. He tries to make some money and dreams of a better life. “I wanted to record with my novel how this generation of migrant workers like Liu entered the city, how they made a living, and how they felt about the city and their destinies. I am happy if readers learn more about them and their lives through my novel,” said Jia. Now the English novel is available in 183 countries. Speaking about the book, Nicky Harman, the English translator of the novel, said, “In depicting the life of Liu, Jia Pingwa gives us a fine-drawn character. He is complex and contradictory as all human beings are. In many ways, Liu is an unlikely hero, but he wins sympathy, because he is such a human.” Amazon Crossing has held its first global launch for the English version of a Chinese literary work. Vice-president of Amazon Ai Boru said, “The Belt and Road Initiative provides an important opportunity for Chinese culture to go global. Amazon wants to do our best to build a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the West. Jia Pingwa is one of the most important and influential contemporary writers, so we are honored to bring the English version of his book Happy Dreams to readers all around the world.”