Daydream
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy psychological suspense and unreliable narration
- Literary enthusiasts who appreciate finely crafted language and are willing to read slowly for style
- Those interested in themes of identity, secrets, and self-deception
- Readers with a taste for wandering through European cities in their reading
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting fast-paced action thrillers
- Readers who need clear judgments of good and evil and a conclusive plot
- Beginner readers lacking patience for subtle, suggestive narration
Reading tips
- On the first reading, follow the suspense; on the second, notice self-adornment and evasion in Vander's tone.
- Treat the Turin journey as a psychological map: note how scene changes correspond to his fear and desire.
- While reading, mark recurring images or phrases; they often hint at cracks in identity.
- Do not rush to judge whether Catherine is credible; preserving ambiguity is closer to the work's way of writing.
About the publisher
Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一部 上
- 第一部 下
- 第二部
- 第三部
FAQ
Is the suspense in this novel strong?
Why is the character Vander worth reading?
What setting is suitable for reading this book?
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
John Banville is a writer known for works of foreign literature, and his books are classified under foreign literature in Chinese reading circles. The library currently holds eight of his works, including the six-volume John Banville Collection and individual titles such as Kepler, Doctor Copernicus, The Newton Letter, Birchwood, Daydream, Mephisto, and Snow. These titles suggest that his writing often centers on figures from the history of science, the inner lives of intellectuals, and themes with a speculative bent, with narratives that combine literary quality and conceptual reflection. Because public information is limited, details of his life, nationality, and dates of birth and death cannot be confirmed here; this introduction outlines his creative profile based only on the works in the library, for readers' reference.
Guo Guoliang is a Chinese translator long engaged in introducing foreign literature. Public biographical information about him is limited, and his work is chiefly reflected in a considerable number of Chinese translations. The library holds twenty-nine of his works, covering both classics and contemporary fiction. They range from nineteenth-century classics such as Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge to works by contemporary writers including John Banville, Kazuo Ishiguro, Philip Roth and Ian McEwan, such as Atonement, The Children Act and Zuckerman Bound. His translations are mostly classified as foreign literature and classic works; the selections balance literary-historical standing with readability, offering Chinese readers a fairly systematic set of English-language novels and reflecting the translator's sustained attention to the form and narrative rhythm of the novel.
Tang Mengying is an author about whom limited public information is available. Two works are currently known, both categorized as foreign literature. Her representative works are the John Banville Collection (six-volume set) and Daydream. Based on the available information, her writing and publishing activities center mainly on foreign literature: the former presents John Banville's works in a collected set, while the latter appears under the title Daydream, suggesting an interest in organizing, translating, or editing works of foreign literature. Because her dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and professional experience are not clearly recorded, a more detailed account of her life and creative development is difficult to provide. Readers seeking to understand her style and orientation may begin with these two works and note their features in textual selection, editorial arrangement, and language. Overall, Tang Mengying's public profile rests on limited work information, and her literary presence awaits further disclosure.
