Great Waves (Part One)

Li JierenFeb 2022

4.3

Word count: 62K words
Chapters: 15

Summary

This book places its narrative viewpoint among upper-level bureaucrats and historical figures, recreating with grand sweep the Railway Protection Movement that erupted in Sichuan in 1911 and depicting the surging revolutionary tide and the customs and lives of the people under its influence, with a strong local flavor. The book reflects a turbulent era of restless hearts and portrays a panorama of people caught in a great upheaval, and it is of high value for the study of dialect literature. The novel successfully creates typical characters such as Chu Yong, Hao Yousan, and Huang Lansheng, weaving personal experience into historical change and delicately rendering the daily life, commercial activity, clothing culture, and local products of the time, rich in Bashu cultural color.

Editor's review

The first volume of Li Jieren's Da Bo centers on the 1911 Railway Protection Movement in Sichuan, yet sets its narrative viewpoint among upper-level bureaucrats and historical figures, unfolding a great upheaval with grand sweep. Its value lies not only in recreating the revolutionary tide but in embedding characters such as Chu Yong, Hao Yousan, and Huang Lansheng within historical change, letting readers see the panorama of restless hearts in a turbulent era. The meticulous depiction of daily life, commercial activity, clothing culture, and local products makes Bashu local color part of the narrative texture rather than ornament, and the vivid quality of dialect literature emerges from this. Read it as a "historical novel with a pulse": watch how the Railway Protection Movement draws in all sides, and how ordinary people hesitate and choose amid change. Suited to readers willing to read slowly and interested in both modern history and regional culture; those seeking fast-paced plot may find the detail dense. It is best to grasp the basic outline of the Railway Protection Movement before entering the web of characters.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the 1911 Sichuan Railway Protection Movement and modern Chinese history
Readers who enjoy novels rich in regional culture and vivid dialect texture
Literary lovers willing to read slowly for character ensembles and customs detail
Students and scholars of Li Jieren's work or dialect literature

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced, plot-driven fiction and lack patience
Readers entirely unfamiliar with the modern history background who are unwilling to do preliminary reading
Readers expecting a single protagonist's growth arc

Reading tips

Spend ten minutes learning the basic outline of the Railway Protection Movement before starting; the character relationships will be clearer.
Note the identities and positions of main figures such as Chu Yong, Hao Yousan, and Huang Lansheng as you read to avoid confusing the ensemble.
Do not skip dialect and customs passages; they are key to understanding the Bashu cultural color.
After finishing, revisit the shifts between upper-bureaucrat and popular perspectives to appreciate the narrative viewpoint.

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FAQ

Can I read the first volume without having read other volumes of Da Bo?

Yes. The first volume opens with the social background of the Railway Protection Movement and the character relationships, and has a relatively complete narrative starting point. But the book has many characters and interwoven threads; it is best to learn the basic facts of the movement beforehand and pay attention to characters' identities before continuing to later volumes.

Will the dialect in this book hinder understanding?

Dialect and Bashu customs descriptions are dense, but most can be understood from context; there is no need to verify every word. If a key dialect term affects the plot, look it up briefly; overall it enhances regional texture and character voice rather than creating obstacles.

Is it more like a history book or a novel?

It is a historical novel set against the Railway Protection Movement, but its focus is the fusion of characters' experience with the atmosphere of the era. Historical events provide the frame; the lives and choices of Chu Yong, Hao Yousan, Huang Lansheng, and others are the narrative flesh. Readers seeking an event summary should adjust expectations and read it as literary historical narrative.

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About the author

Li Jieren Author · Chinese · 1891–1962

Li Jieren (1891–1962), originally named Li Jiaxiang, was a native of Chengdu, Sichuan, and a modern Chinese writer and translator of French literature. In his early years he studied and worked in France; after returning to China, he devoted himself to writing, translation, and industry, and served as vice mayor of Chengdu and vice chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles. His writings are set in Chengdu and focus on the social changes of the late Qing and early Republican periods. His representative River Trilogy—Ripples in the Stagnant Water, Before the Storm, and The Great Wave—portrays local customs and the turmoil of the times with delicate detail, combining the realistic depth of social fiction with a strong regional flavor. The collection includes 23 of his works, covering classic novels and literary collections. His parallel careers in translation and writing make him a notable figure in modern Chinese–foreign literary exchange.