One Man's Bible

Gao Xingjian · b. 1940 · China / France

Originally Yi Ge Ren De Sheng Jing (Chinese) · translated by Mabel Lee

Why it matters

A Chinese writer in European exile confronts Cultural Revolution memories he spent decades suppressing, sliding between 'you' and 'he' to hold the self at arm's length. Gao's post-Nobel novel is as formally daring as Soul Mountain, and more directly political.

At a glance

Alternating second- and third-person narration across two timelines demands careful tracking.