The novella, as the editors of this volume explain, is in many ways the "native habitat" of modern Chinese literary production--the ideal fictional form for revealing the various facets of contemporary Chinese culture. The seven novellas collected here resoundingly support their claim. Featuring works by award winners and rising stars, women and men, By the River presents a confluence of some of the most compelling voices in China today. Together, their narratives reflect the rich diversity of Chinese experience in the modern era.

These novellas are stories of coming...