Set in China during the cultural revolution, this follows two city boys being 're educated' in the mountains, and the effect that a secret suitcase full of western classics has on their lives. This being the time of virtually all books being banned, lots of book burning etc.

Unsurprisingly there's also a little Chinese seamtress in it. We never actually learn her name... I am wondering if she is also supposed to symbolise something. The ultimate result of the boys reading these stories to her is that she realises her potential, the depth of life and leaves them all and the mountains to go to the city in search of adventure. Her lover, one of the two boys, then burns all the books.

Since I read Wild Swans I've become fascinated by China and its history. As well as being a magical little story, this is also a little window into that period of history. The author himself was also 're educated' in China during that time.

Sending this with some other books to a pal down in Doncaster. Book parcels especially fun during covid lockdown number three!