Autumn Winds and Books: The Biography of Zhang Ji

Autumn Letter: The Life of Zhang Ji takes inspiration from the poetic world of “Autumn Thoughts,” by mid-Tang poet Zhang Ji, and follows half a lifetime of wandering, linked by an unfinished letter home. From failed imperial examinations during the Tianbao era and the fires of war and family separation during the An Lushan Rebellion, to the hardships of a career in officialdom, the story uses the family letter as its thread to explore the spiritual struggles and attachment to home experienced by scholars in a time of war. In 100,000 words, the book combines historical research with literary imagination to portray the steadfastness and deep affection of ordinary people amid upheaval in their country and family.