In this award-winning collection of short stories, Yiyun Li takes us to a contemporary China that is called to confront its complex history, filled with oppression and guilt. In the story "Extra," a middle-aged, lonely woman befriends a young boy, and we witness how love can overcome the obstacles of everyday life. In the story titled "Immortality," a young man bears an uncanny resemblance to the dictator, and this likeness will define his entire life. From the bustling heart of Beijing and the deserted expanses of Mongolia to an ordinary fast-food restaurant in Chicago, Li sheds light on how myth, politics, history, and people's culture interact with their personalities to shape their destinies. Revealing worlds both familiar and foreign, with a heartbreaking honesty and beautiful style, this captivating collection is the work of a great new author.

"A wonderfully written collection [...] Li has the remarkable talent of narrating the entire history of China through the lives of ordinary people. She is already one of the most important voices in China today."
(New Statesman)

"These are stories of immense brilliance and subtlety [...] In her short stories [Li] perfectly captures the nuances of thought and action."
(Scotsman)