Brothers (Yu Hua novel)

Brothers (兄弟, Xiōngdì) is a novel by the Chinese author Yu Hua which was published in 2005. The book was translated into English and Spanish in 2009, and into Brazilian Portuguese and into Hungarian (by János SZÉKY) in 2010.

Summary

Brothers tells the story of two step-brothers, Song Gang and Baldy Li. Their family is very poor, and they become orphans in their teens. Later, one of the brothers becomes the richest man in the city. The two of them dispute over the same woman.

Brothers has funny moments but also has very sad and dark tales of the Chinese 20th century, especially about the excessively violent first moments of the Chinese Revolution.

Characters

• Baldy Li: One of the two protagonists. Stepbrother to Song Gang and son of Li Lan. His real name is Li Guang.
• Song Gang: One of the two protagonists. Stepbrother to Baldy Li and son of Song Fanping.
• Song Fanping: Song Gang's father and Baldy Li's stepfather. After his first wife dies, he remarries Li Lan. He dies after being beaten to death by Chinese Revolutionists. He has a sister living in Shanghai.
• Li Lan: Baldy Li's mother and Song Gang's stepmother. Li Lan's first husband died when he fell into a cesspool and drowned. She struggles with migraines.