Feb 27, 2014 the ten thousand things meets the challenge simply by telling a straightforward story and leaving the fortune cookies behind. Jan 29, 2018 what better book to kick us off than john spurlings hidden gemofanovel the ten thousand things. A novel of fated meetings, grand battles and riveting drama, in the ten thousand things john spurling seamlessly fuses the epic and the intimate with the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. John spurlings historical novel the ten thousand things, explores these questions through the life of a historical figure of that period, wang meng, an artist of considerable talent who also occasionally served as a magistrate. The ten thousand things is rich with exquisite observations, and john spurling endows every descriptionevery detailwith the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that. My interest was piqued when, on a two week internship at duckworth and overlook press, i heard the managing director call this book exquisite. Through john spurlings writing you feel as though you are reading wang mengs paintings as he created them.
Outside of his publications, spurling held various positions between the 1960s to 1980s. Feb 26, 2015 in the ten thousand things john spurling seamlessly fuses the epic and the intimate with the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. The ten thousand things is rich with exquisite observations, and john spurling endows every description, every detail, with the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. Looking through this blog i was appalled to find that i never wrote u. John spurlings new novel, winner of the walter scott prize john spurlings enchanting the ten thousand things takes place in 14thcentury china, during the final years of the mongolruled yuan dynasty. The ten thousand things has the sort of sensual prose that makes the reader purr with delight and is surely destined to be one of the books of the year. Jun, 2015 john spurling was awarded the sixth walter scott prize for historical fiction by the duke of buccleuch for his novel set in imperial china, the ten thousand things.
An illustration of daoist philosophy, this elegant. John spurling wins top prize at borders book festival bbc news. Combining the delicacy of an old chinese landscape painting with the brutality of chinese history, spurlings novel follows the wanderings of. John spurling was given the sixth walter scott prize for historical fiction for his novel the ten thousand things. Through john spurling s writing you feel as though you are reading wang mengs paintings as he created them. It was published by duckworth overlook in 2014 and won the walter scott prize in 2015. Combining the delicacy of an old chinese landscape painting with the brutality of chinese. The ten thousand things by john spurling nook book. Of his written works, spurling won the 2015 walter scott prize for the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things winner of the walter scott prize for historical fiction 4. The ten thousand things by john spurling overdrive rakuten. The ten thousand things is a historical novel by author and playwright john spurling, based on life of thcentury chinese artist wang meng during the yuan. In the turbulent final years of the yuan dynasty, wang meng. The ten thousand things by john spurling overdrive. John spurlings top 5 books about china the bookseller. It deals with chinese politics, religion, art, and philosophy in economical and accessible prose. Just as a master painter of yore would define a landscape in sweeping strokes of. The ten thousand things isbn 9781468308327 pdf epub john. His plays have been performed on stage, television, and radio, inc. But it is also a novel of fated meetings, grand battles, and riveting drama, and in its seamless fusion of the epic and the intimate, it. John spurling wins top prize at borders book festival. The ten thousand things follows wang meng, an extraordinarily gifted artist, as he travels through an empire in turmoil it might have been the ancient greek philosopher socrates who once said that an unexamined life is not worth living, but his lessons are remarkably well applied in the novel, the ten thousand things, set in 14thcentury china author john spurling has modeled his fictional. Author, whose book was rejected 44 times, has won a.
The ten thousand things by john spurling, 9781468310122, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The thousand things by john spurling is out now from duckworth. The ten thousand things winner of the walter scott prize for historical fiction by john spurling, 9780715649565, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. They take different avatars and ring with varying resonance for different people through the generations.
Wellwritten, arcadian nights will be difficult to put down. This intricately wrought study of medieval chinese scholarartists is wonderfully well imagined. The narrative follows the life of an artist, wang meng, whose work is on display today in museums across the world. The ten thousand things is rich with exquisite observations, and john spurling endows every descriptionevery detailwith the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to. Apr 24, 2014 the ten thousand things is a wonderfully evocative, historical fiction novel about the world of yuan dynasty ancient china, the life of protagonist literati painter wang meng who is descended from the song dynasty royal family through his mother, his family, friends, and acquaintances, as well as the rampant rebellionspolitical strife going on during the period of the fall of one. In his descriptions of such places, as elsewhere in this book, the reader may get the. But it is also a novel of fated meetings, grand battles and riveting drama, and in its seamless fusion of the epic and the intimate, it deserves to be compared to the classic. Apr 16, 2014 he died in 1966 and this book, covering his japanese translations as well as his private life, was published in 1970. Although it came out three years ago, i thought it worth a second look as a piece of historical fiction on the life of renowned chinese ink painter wang meng who lived during the yuan dynasty early th century to 68.
In the ten thousand things, john spurling endows every description with the presision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. Just as a master painter of yore would define a landscape in sweeping strokes of his brush and draw the eye to some intricate detail, so john. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The ten thousand things is not unlike a beautiful wang meng landscape painting. John spurling was awarded the sixth walter scott prize for historical fiction by the duke of buccleuch for his novel set in imperial china, the ten thousand things. John spurlings enchanting the ten thousand things takes place in.
With this richly told historical novel, english author spurling a book of liszts, 2011, etc. Spurling worked on the book for over fifteen years and in the process his work was rejected by 44 publishers. The first meet the authors event of 2015 will feature john spurling introducing his novel the ten thousand things. That was a turbulent century all over the world, but especially in china, where the mongol conquerors were gradually. He went on to say that whilst in hospital recovering from injury, this was the only book the only book.
The ten thousand things by john spurling overlook 4. Read the ten thousand things a novel by john spurling available from rakuten kobo. Spurling includes a painting by wang as a frontispiece to the book, which ive reproduced here, and which plays a. John spurling born 17 july 1936 is a kenyanenglish playwright and author who has written thirty plays and four books. Apr 07, 2015 the beauty of john spurlings novel is that it is at once an incredibly detailed story and a sweeping view of the times. That was a turbulent century all over the world, but especially in china, where. John spurling s the ten thousand things is the story of wang meng, one of the 14th centurys great masters of painting. By using wangs life as a focus, spurling gives readers insight into. He is a fellow of the royal society of literature and the husband of hilary spurling. The book is set in 14thcentury china, during the final years of the mongolruled. But it is also a novel of fated meetings, grand battles, and riveting drama, and in its seamless fusion of the epic and the intimate, it achieves. The ten thousand things by spurling, john 2014 hardcover by spurling, john and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
John spurlings the ten thousand things is the story of wang meng, one. The ten thousand things john spurling like all the best historical fiction, reading the ten thousand things, is a tactile immersion into an unfamiliar time and place leaving a lasting impression of an atmosphere and culture. The daily mail in this immersive tale of a landscape artists life, written with restrained lyricism, john spurling has also given us an entertaining and insightful study about the art of. The authors agent for his novels, with the exception of a book of liszts, is david marshall. The ten thousand things meets the challenge simply by telling a straightforward story and leaving the fortune cookies behind. Spurlings ten thousand things wins walter scott prize. The ten thousand things is a historical novel by author and playwright john spurling, based on life of thcentury chinese artist wang meng during the yuan dynasty. It is during this period that the events described in john spurlings book, ten thousand things take place. What better book to kick us off than john spurlings hidden gemofanovel the ten thousand things. Rich with exquisite observations and thrilling action, the ten thousand things brings the past to vivid, resonant life. In the ten thousand things, john spurling endows every description every detail with the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. Wang meng is descended from an emperor yet is content to support himself and his wife with a minor bureaucratic post in the yuan dynasty. The beauty of john spurling s novel is that it is at once an incredibly detailed story and a sweeping view of the times.
John spurling ja the ten thousand things ja the walter. The ten thousand things winner of the walter scott prize for. Sep 02, 2017 it is during this period that the events described in john spurlings book, ten thousand things take place. Jun, 2015 john spurling wins top prize at borders book festival. In the turbulent final years of the yuan dynasty, wang meng is a lowlevel bureaucrat, employed by. John spurlings historical novel the ten thousand things, explores these questions through the life of a historical figure of that period, wang. He died in 1966 and this book, covering his japanese translations as well as his private life, was published in 1970. John spurling is the author of many novels and plays, including the ten thousand things, winner of the 2015 walter scott prize for historical fiction, also available from overlook. Jul 31, 2015 in the ten thousand things, john spurling endows every description with the presision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. The beauty of john spurlings novel is that it is at once an incredibly detailed story and a sweeping view of the times.
There is a reason john spurling won the walter scott prize for historical fiction the ten thousand things, and it will become clear in reading arcadian nights in which the greek myths are dusted off from old college readers like edith hamiltons mythology and given new life in this fantastic collection. The ten thousand things is the story of a chinese artist in the 14 th century. The ten thousand things winner of the walter scott prize. Apr 24, 2014 the ten thousand things winner of the walter scott prize for historical fiction by john spurling, 9780715649565, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In the ten thousand things john spurling seamlessly fuses the epic and the intimate with the precision and depth that the reallife wang meng brought to his painting. Read it now enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download. The ten thousand things, after all, never fade away. In the turbulent final years of the yuan dynasty, wang meng is a lowlevel bureaucrat, employed by the government of mon. The ten thousand things by john spurling 2014, hardcover. With this richly told historical novel, english author spurling a book of. The ten thousand things by john spurling nook book ebook. The ten thousand things john spurling duckworth about the author john spurling is an awardwinning author and a prolific playwright, whose plays have been performed on television, radio and stage, including at the national theatre.
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