A young official begins his career in a local government office and is swept into the tide of reform, learning through hard experience as he implements policies and prepares research reports.
He has seen the polished rhetoric of official documents and run up against the cold barriers of reality.
He has been overlooked in obscurity, and thrust into the spotlight when the political winds turn treacherous.
This is the story of an ordinary grassroots public servant's growth,
and a realistic ensemble portrait of ideals, reality, rules, and choices.
Caught between the halls of power and the wider world,
he learns when to stay silent, observe, wait, and act.
Behind every report lies a web of human relationships;
behind every promotion, a delicate balance of interests and rivalries.
Some govern a region, while others go nowhere;
some move quietly beneath the surface, while others turn the tide against the odds.
The author is or was a member of the establishment.
Interesting, wonderful novel. Just no internet writing