In which I present Family, by Ba Jin, a revolutionary work that expresses the political and personal frustrations of the young generation in early 20th-century China. We discuss Ba Jin’s political ideals, the conflicts that encapsulate the novel, and the radical energy contained in the work. We also make comparison Dream of the Red Chamber, a novel that follows a similar protagonist in a similar family, but with major differences in tone and philosophy.

Books Referenced:

Family, Ba Jin (1932)

Dream of the Red Chamber, aka Dream of Red Mansions, aka The Story of the Stone, Cao Xueqin (1791)

Fathers and Sons, Ivan Turgenev (1862)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit balckwell.substack.com