Tribulations of a Chinese Man in China, by Jules Verne

Balckwell’s Books returns with this, the second episode. This month I discuss Tribulations of a Chinese Man in China by Jules Verne, a strange and exciting novel about China by a 19th-century Frenchman who had never been anywhere near. In the episode, I try to grapple with this bizarre book, and discover what it is that Jules Verne was trying to do with his work.

I loved reading Jules Verne as a kid, but it wasn’t until returning to his books in the last few years that I’ve come to respect him quite a lot as an author. He is fun and prolific without being sloppy, and has a knack for pulling together a decent story from a collection of seemingly disparate ideas. He took this story about a disillusioned man and a bizarre life insurance firm, transplanted it into China, added a barrelful of nonsense, and just had at it. Truly impeccable.

Next month’s book will be the first volume of A Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin. While I was working on this month’s episode, I happened across a wonderful-looking edition at the library and had to pick it up, and ended up getting absorbed in this amazing book all over again. Didn’t mean to keep the China theme going but that’s how it worked out. I’ve gotta do what my heart tells me! I’ve got no choice!