THE CLAN

This is Zhang Wei's largest scale novel, and the one most imbued with historical lyricism. It forthwith evoked a strong response. Five editions were issued simultaneously inside and outside of the Mainland. In the space of one year almost thirty thousand copies were printed. Critics called it "a sagely poem."

The novel is fashioned from the intersection of three main elements: history, reality, and narration, which constructs one clan's story over one century. This is a tale which concerns a hundred years of Chinese history. Surging forth with force and grandeur, the novel gives a penetrating depiction of the rise and fall of all manner of the power which came to dominate China over the last century. It is a tremendously valuable reading for those who wish to understand the Chinese history, culture, and politics. It is also a book that is capable of arousing the reader's sensation of artistic pleasure. The novel contains the author's agitation and bitter tears and the powerful narrative could be seen as an epic poem. Not long after its publication some critic acclaimed: "China has produced a truly great novel," and "it is a far better harvest than the Chinese literary world could expect to reap."

The novel has been regarded as the one "great creation" in which the author gives complete reign to his artistic talents. Many agree that The Clan is "a strong literary voice at the end of the twentieth century."