Lychees in Chang'an

In the 14th year of the Tianbao reign of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shande, a minor official in Chang'an, was suddenly tasked with transporting fresh lychees from Lingnan before the imperial concubine's birthday. Lychees change color in one day, their fragrance in two, and their flavor in three. Lingnan, over 5,000 miles from Chang'an, was a vast expanse of mountains and rivers, making this an impossible task. But for his family, Li Shande resolved to give it a try: "Even if I fail, I want to know how close I am to the finish line."
"Lychees in Chang'an" is Ma Boyong's highly acclaimed historical novel.
Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's line, "A horse gallops through the dusty world, and the concubine smiles; no one knows it's the lychees arriving," has captivated people for over a thousand years. But fresh lychees only last for three days. How did this legendary journey spanning over 5,000 miles come about? And who allowed Yang Guifei to enjoy fresh lychees from Lingnan in Chang'an? Author Ma Boyong explores this fascinating question with a truly imaginative twist.
This book follows Ma Boyong's consistent sense of time and space tension, allowing readers to not only see how ordinary people survive in troubled times, but also feel the passionate struggle of man. A "Lychee Fresh Transport Map" is included with the book.
★ Editor's Recommendation: Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's line, "A horse gallops through the dusty city, and the concubine smiles; no one knows it's the lychees arriving," has captivated the world for millennia. However, the detailed transport of the lychees from Lingnan, over 5,000 miles away, to Chang'an remains largely unknown. Ma Boyong, with his ingenuity, draws inspiration from this line to create the story of Li Shande, a Tang Dynasty office worker, striving tooth and nail on a project. Although a historical novel, readers will find reflections in their own lives, from finding a place to live in a big city, navigating workplace emotional intelligence, and unavoidably breaking the rules—the struggles of ordinary people are remarkably familiar. The arduous task of transporting fresh lychees over a thousand miles reflects the broader social landscape of the Tang Dynasty through the lens of human experience.
This highly acclaimed historical novel, written in just 11 days, received widespread acclaim upon its initial publication, receiving tens of thousands of reviews as a masterpiece and a 96% recommendation rating. It also attracted a massive influx of readers, including comments and derivative works, across platforms like Weibo, TikTok, Xiaohongshu, and Toutiao.
This book has a small-format double-cover design and comes with a leaflet illustration of the "Fresh Lychee Transportation Map".
Ma Boyong combines his deep understanding of history with a keen eye for the present, creating a writing style that touches the heart. While writing about the ancients, he often allows us to see ourselves. This is the case with "Lychees in Chang'an."
——Yu Gengzhe, professor at the School of History and Culture, Shaanxi Normal University

2022-10-01

湖南文艺出版社

Bo Ji Tian Juan

224

9787572608582