“Years ago, I read Jung Chang’s Wild Swans, and was blown away by that story of three generations of women in twentieth-century China. Chang’s book was a wonderful voyage into a country that until then had been relatively unknown to me. After that initial encounter I read many other novels set in China, but none of them excited me as much as this captivating generational novel by Zhang Yueran. Cocoon is an unbelievably mature work, full of psychological depth and written in a style that is fresh while also being precise and sensitive. Zhang is without a doubt one of the most promising and unique voices in contemporary Chinese literature.”

Praise for Cocoon

“The twists and absurdities of Chinese history circle each other across time. In the most personal way, Cocoon charts a pathway through individual and collective memory, through the most hidden fissures and bonds between young people and their parents. With exquisite, precise, and lyrical language, the novel sets the benchmark for younger authors seeking to write about history and individuals, proving once again that Zhang Yueran’s writing surpasses and distinguishes itself from that of her contemporaries.”

YAN LIANKE

“An irresistible siren-song of a novel by one of our most original voices … A grandfather lies in a coma, his brain destroyed by a nail, and two friends reach across time and the gaps between them to unravel the mystery of that nail, a mystery that has haunted and tormented both their families. A transcendent novel that suggests that family secrets and family crimes are the nation from which none of us can ever fully escape.”

JUNOT DÍAZ

“Zhang Yueran is one of the most exciting new Chinese writers. Her work is original and thought-provoking, and her writing style is of a mature, well-rounded nature. The world needs an engagement with China more than ever at the moment that goes beyond the stereotypes and well-trodden genres, to develop genuine links and understanding.”

FRANCES WEIGHTMAN, Director of The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing

“This novel on the ghosts of the Cultural Revolution reveals a talented young Chinese writer in Zhang Yueran.”

Transfuge

“A great and beautiful novel, from one of the promising pens of contemporary China.”

Image, Demain le monde

“With finesse, and mastery of the two-voiced storytelling technique, Zhang Yueran unlocks, pries open, explores the intricate depths of broken couples, of imploded families, and of scarred generations who inherit the abuses of their ancestors.”

Libération

“With mastery of the art of suspense, Zhang Yueran skilfully brings together the pieces of a scattered puzzle.”

Télérama

“This book is a raging fire.”

Le Nouveau Magazine Littéraire

“Without ever falling into pathos, Zhang Yueran paints an incisive portrait of a generation scarred by decisions made in the dark hours of history.”

Le Courrier Suisse