Steel Wedding
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Summary
Editor's review
The value of this work lies in its profound engagement with reality and its insight into human nature. It transcends conventional family-ethics narrative, placing marriage within a broader panorama of social change—economic pressure, interpersonal alienation, and individual spiritual bewilderment together constitute the "steel" test that contemporary marriage must face. The characters are not perfect; their struggles and choices feel real, prompting readers to continually reflect on themselves. Li Peifu's language is rich in texture and tension, carrying immense emotional energy within plain everyday narration, so that the concept of "steel marriage" transcends a mere anniversary symbol to become a powerful metaphor for the nature of marriage: it is not forever wear-free, but through repeated blows, forging, and cooling, gains new shape and strength. For readers concerned with the emotional state of modern people, this is a profound work not to be missed.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in deep reflection on contemporary marriage and family relationships
- Literary enthusiasts who appreciate Li Peifu's solid and weighty literary style
- Married people in the midst of marriage who seek resonance and inspiration
- Observers concerned with individual fate and emotional dilemmas amid social change
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment or romantic love stories
- Readers impatient with realistic subjects and delicate psychological description
Reading tips
- It is recommended to read continuously during relatively quiet periods to better immerse oneself in the emotional atmosphere and psychological rhythm created by the text.
- Pause appropriately during reading and, drawing on one's own observations or experiences, reflect on the propositions about commitment, communication, and self-fulfillment raised in the book.
- After finishing, discuss it with a partner or close friend; this book is a good medium for opening deep conversation.
About the publisher
Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on literary publishing while also covering the humanities, social sciences, and books on art and daily life. Its approximately 1,535 titles in the database span social novels, world history, design, science fiction, classic works, and film and television: they include modern Chinese literary classics by Lu Xun such as A Madman's Diary: The Complete Short Stories of Lu Xun, Call to Arms, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, as well as foreign literary memoirs like Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. In science fiction it offers Asimov's Galactic Empire series, while in architecture and art it publishes Liu Dunzhen's Classical Gardens of Suzhou and design titles from Phoenix Space. Its authors are concentrated among classic writers such as Lu Xun, Zweig, and Asimov, with translators including Liang Xijiang, Zhong Haonan, and Ye Lihua. Its overall character is built on classic works while embracing genre fiction and visual culture. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based on the titles in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 1. 满城荷花
- 2. 竹竿小院
- 3. 专员
- 4. 人面橘
- 5. 圆圈
- 6. 败节草
- 7. 学习微笑
- 8. 红蚂蚱，绿蚂蚱
- 9. 狗娃舅
- 10. 德运舅的大喜日子
- 11. 队长舅
- 12. 选举
- 13. 谷场上
- 14. 瞎子舅
- 15. 老磨
- 16. 村孩儿
- 17. 绿嘴儿牡丹
- 18. 老坟地
- 19. 黑蜻蜒
- 20. 钢婚——一九九二的永恒
- 21. 无边无际的早晨
- 22. 画匠王——一九八八
- 23. 黑孩儿
- 24. 狗剩
- 25. 捉奸
- 26. 捏蛋儿
- 27. 国家教师李明玉
- 28. 香叶
- 29. 二拐子
- 30. 菜园风波
- 31. 二奶奶骂街
- 32. 牛屎饼花
- 33. 石磙
- 34. 响棒槌
- 35. 红薯窖
- 36. 鼓手
- 37. 千层底
FAQ
What is the connection between Steel Marriage and Li Peifu's previous work The Book of Life?
Is the tone of this book very heavy and oppressive?
Can readers without marriage experience understand this book?
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About the author
Li Peifu, born in October 1953 in Xuchang, Henan, is a contemporary Chinese writer and a national first-class writer. He has served as deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine Mangyuan, vice chairman of the Henan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and chairman of the Henan Provincial Writers Association, and has long taken the "plain" as his literary territory. His representative works include The Sheep's Gate, The City's Lamp, The Book of Life, and Plains Guests; in 2015 he won the Ninth Mao Dun Literature Prize for The Book of Life. His writing focuses largely on the rural society of the Central Plains, portraying human relations and ordinary people's struggles between countryside and city, with a steady, grounded style that interweaves personal fate with social change. Besides novels, he has published the Selected Novels of Li Peifu, the novella and short-story collection The Boundless Morning, and Red Grasshopper, Green Grasshopper, as well as The Golden House and The Li Family: The Seventeenth Generation. His work is often classified as social fiction and classic literature, and he remains an influential figure in contemporary Chinese letters.
