Serve the People!

Serve the People! follows a love affair between Wu Dawang, a military servant, and Liu Lian, the wife of a Division Commander in 1967 Communist China. The story takes place during the Cultural Revolution, when Chairman Mao's slogan "Serve the People!" dominated public life. The narrative centers on the relationship between these two characters as they meet in secret within the Commander's household. Their encounters are marked by the constant presence of revolutionary symbols and slogans that saturate their environment. Sexual desire and political devotion become intertwined as Wu and Liu Lian engage in acts of ideological rebellion through their physical relationship. The book's attention to the details of daily life in the military compound creates a vivid portrait of the era. The novel examines how political power affects intimate relationships, and questions the nature of service - to the state, to desire, and to other human beings. Through its mix of eroticism and revolutionary imagery, it presents a subversive view of authority and control in Maoist China.

Readers note the book's dark humor and satire of Cultural Revolution-era China, with many appreciating how it uses absurdist elements to critique power and desire. Liked: - Raw portrayal of forbidden relationships - Commentary on class differences and power dynamics - Clean, straightforward writing style - Effectiveness of satire without being heavy-handed Disliked: - Plot becomes repetitive in middle sections - Some metaphors feel too obvious - Translation loses some cultural context - Characters lack depth beyond their symbolic roles Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (50+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The humor hits hard because it comes from such a serious place" - Goodreads reviewer "Would have worked better as a novella" - Amazon reviewer "Made me understand the absurdity of that period better than any history book" - LibraryThing review

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🔸 The book was banned in mainland China upon its release in 2005 for its explicitly sexual content and satirical take on Mao-era revolutionary ideals. 🔸 The title "Serve the People!" comes from a famous 1944 speech by Mao Zedong, and the phrase became one of the most popular slogans during China's Cultural Revolution. 🔸 Author Yan Lianke served in the People's Liberation Army for several years, giving him firsthand experience of military life that he drew upon for the novel's setting. 🔸 The book's plot was inspired by a true story Yan heard about a sexual affair between a military commander's wife and a young soldier during the Cultural Revolution. 🔸 Despite being banned in China, the novel has been translated into more than 20 languages and received international acclaim, including being longlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.