The #1 national bestseller by Alexandre “Sacha” Trudeau
The Montreal Gazette praises Alexandre Trudeau’s debut as “a work in the spirit of V. S. Naipaul’s celebrated India travelogues, an on-the-ground, agenda-free enquiry into a place that does not reveal its essence easily.” Ever since he was a boy, Alexandre Trudeau has been fascinated by the ancient, complex enigma that is China. Recounting his experiences in the China of recent years, Trudeau visits artists and migrant workers, townspeople and rural farmers. Often accompanied by a young Chinese journalist, Vivien, he explores realities caught in time between the China of our memories and the thrust of progress. Barbarian Lost is an insightful and witty account of the dynamic changes going on right now in China, as well as a look back into the deeper history of this highly codified society. On the ground with the women and men who make China tick, Trudeau shines new light on the country as only a traveller with his storytelling abilities can.
A BRILLIANT, EVOCATIVE TRAVELOGUE OF MODERN CHINA
To this day, China remains an enigma. Ancient, complex and fast moving, it defies easy understanding. Ever since he was a boy, Alexandre Trudeau has been fascinated by this great county. Recounting his experiences in the China of recent years, Trudeau visits artists and migrant workers, townspeople and rural farmers. Often accompanied by a young Chinese journalist, Vivien, he explores realities caught in time between the China of our memories and the thrust of progress. The China he seeks out lurks in hints and shadows. It flickers dimly amid all the glare and noise. The people he encounters along the way give up but small secrets, yet each revelation comes as a surprise that jolts us from our preconceived ideas and forces us to challenge our most secure notions.
"Alexandre Trudeau has a keen eye for contradiction, a novelist's gift for dialogue, and a fly-on-the-wall detachment that is both austere and engrossing. At turns provocative, hilarious and moving, this book is a must-read for all Canadians."
