The Reading Warehouse

In Tian-kong de chi-bang (The Wings of Heaven), Li Bifeng tells the dramatic story of a Chinese family that perished in the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution. Zhang Fafu is wrongly in prison, his wife kills herself after her daughter blackmailed her to the Communist Party officials. The daughter dies on the "Mountain of the Sun" in one of the most horrific battles of the Cultural Revolution, in which mainly young people and young adults took part.

The novel not only sheds light on the brutality and absurdity of the Cultural Revolution, but also dissects the very private interests of those involved, who were often the driving force behind the revolution. Li Bifeng's special focus is on the sexual exploitation of women within the apparatus of power, a topic that has usually been neglected in the cultural revolution so far.

The 12 illustrations, created especially for the novel, were created by the Chinese artist Meng Huang.

Content
I'm gonna fly
A sneaker
The desire
Present a treasure
The rainbow in the mountains
The pension
Beijing
The longing for the second sneaker
The Mountain of the Sun
I haven't done anything wrong
Epilog
Translator's remarks