Border Town：A Novel

Firstpublishedin1934,"BorderTown"bringstolifethestoryofCuicui,ayoungcountrygirlcomingofageduringatimeofnationalturmoil.Likeanyteenager,Cuicuidreamsofromanceandfindingtruelove.She'sspellboundbythelocalcustomofnighttimeserenades,andsheisdeftlypursuedbytwoeligiblebrothers.ButCuicuiisalsohauntedbytheimminentdeathofhergrandfather,apoorandhonorableferrymanwhoisheronlyfamily.Asshegrowsup,Cuicuidiscoversthatlifeisfulloftheunexpectedandthatshealonewillmakethechoicesthatdetermineherdestiny.Amovingtestamenttothehumanspirit,"BorderTown"isabeautifullywrittennovel,consideredShenCongwen'smasterpieceforitsbrilliantportrayalofChineserurallifebeforetheCommunistrevolution.