The Biography of Hainan Island: The Past and Present of an Island is the only volume in the Biographies of a Hundred Silk Road Cities series to take an entire island, and province, as its geographical unit. Countless people have experienced the natural beauty of Hainan Island. Yet the upheavals and heartbreak that once unfolded here, a singular setting for human life, have long since sunk into the cold, shadowy depths of history. In a style of personal essays, this book recounts the island's hidden and legendary past, dredging up people and things mottled by time like a sunken ship. It brings them back to life and retells their stories, drawing out a wealth of surprising meaning and flavor. This is precisely what makes Hainan Island so captivating. Organized chronologically and woven through with people, objects, and events, the book moves from individual stories to a broader view. People and specific things and events serve as witnesses to their times, revealing the political systems, social life, and literary developments of each era. Many of the objects described have meanings that extend beyond the objects themselves, reflecting the interwoven histories of human relationships, customs, and changing times.
The author, Kong Jian, is both an accomplished writer and a true native of Hainan. Whether approached as a work of writing or as a reading experience, this book can be seen as a rediscovery of the island.
This book is like a treasure trove, giving me a deeper understanding of Hainan Island's past and present. The author, with a unique perspective and delicate writing, takes me on a journey through the island's customs and culture. Moreover, Professor Kong Jian is a native of Hainan, so his descriptions of the island are incredibly authentic, like a conversation with me, making me feel truly connected. I highly recommend this book!
Lively, interesting, and captivating