Changes

|title=Lenin's Kisses

|author=Yan Lianke

|reviewer=Robin Leggett

|publisher=Chatto & Windus

|date=February 2013

|summary=Fascinating literary fiction translation of a Chinese award winning book that tells of the role of a rural village of disabled residents and their role in funding an ambitious plan to move Lenin's body to China. Full of allegory and symbolism, this is a rare example of modern Chinese literary fiction in translation.

}}

Yan Lianke's 2004 novel, ''Lenin's Kisses'', newly and beautifully translated by Carlos Rojas, is a rare and fascinating example, not just of Chinese fiction from a writer living and working in China, but also a book that has won literary awards (the prestigious Chinese ''Lao She Literary Award''), now available in English. In many respects, the fact that this book won such a literary prize is somewhat surprising - not I hasten to add because of any lack of quality - but because Lianke, who has previously sailed too close to the political wind for Chinese censors, here presents a not altogether flattering view of Chinese politics. It's a book that is literary with a capital L, and while the core of the plot is relatively simple, what makes this book so interesting is the structure and way the story is told.

Often when the translator introduces a novel with their notes, this is dangerous territory. They often reveal unwelcome plot spoilers, making it better to read at the end of the book rather than at the beginning. Not so here. Rojas presents a rich commentary and background to the book, without any plot spoilers, that genuinely adds to the reader's experience.

If you enjoyed this then you might also enjoy another glimpse of socialism in fiction with [[The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson]] while if the whole issue of censorship of authors interests you then [[Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie]] is well worth reading.

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