"One of contemporary China's most celebrated authors." –
The Boston Globe
"A trailblazing Chinese writer. . . . A leading member of China's avant-garde literary movement." –
NPR
"China's boldest and smartest literary agent provocateur. The world has never needed him more." –
South China Morning Post "Brilliant. . . . Daring. . . . A superb achievement." –
Words without Borders "Like some of the best literature, these stories ask more questions than they answer. . . . [Hua] has a special knack for making the mundane surreal."
–The New York Journal of Books "
Renmin, or people, lie at the heart of this collection. . . . The new individuality exhibited by [Yu's] often alienated characters reveals a struggle to adapt to a country transforming."
–Financial Times "Delightful and powerful . . . Soaked in inspiration from experimental writers like Kafka and Borges, the stories in
The April 3rd Incident provide a welcome insight into a country–and an author–in transition. . . . Yu Hua's early work demonstrates the power of surrealism as a form of protest, as he pushes the boundaries of art and expression." –
The Cedar Rapids Gazette
"Written at the beginning of the stellar career of China's globally acclaimed writer Yu, that is from 1987-91, these seven stories are finally making their English-language debut. . . . [This] collection shows that his literary prowess and mastery were present from the start." –
Booklist "Accomplished, genre-bending. . . . Yu's devastating wit and morbid humor are on full display . . . Collected from work written by the author in the 1980s and '90s, the stories are formally experimental, indicative of a burgeoning period in Chinese literature and society. . . . Surreal, humorous, and unexpectedly poignant, Yu's collection will satisfy fans and readers new to his writing alike." –
Publishers Weekly "A provocative collection for cosmopolitan readers with a penchant for international fiction." –
Library Journal
