The Memoirs of Liyuan comprises three volumes: Long-Forgotten Events, Years of Passion, and Vanishing Beyond the Horizon. The novels feature Yue Baozhong, Yue Guozhen, and Liu Shenbei as their respective protagonists, telling stories from the Shenyang region spanning half a century, from the eve of liberation through the era of reform and opening up. Everyday incidents in ordinary people’s lives form the narrative thread, bringing major events in social development into focus. The book features more than 300 characters, whom the author vividly portrays with meticulous prose, capturing people from all walks of life in different historical periods. The plot twists and turns, with events linked one after another, and its most moving moments bring tears to the eyes. We have long been accustomed to grand narratives of history, overlooking the joys and sorrows of ordinary people. Now, we might take the time to read The Memoirs of Liyuan a few times. It records the true stories of everyday people: a history book documenting the lives of ordinary folk.
