A review by abbie_
A Single Swallow by Zhang Ling

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Free review copy received from the publisher

Translated from the Mandarin by Shelly Bryant, Zhang Ling’s A Single Swallow is an intense character study set during World War II, in a small village in rural China. It’s got an unusual structure, since it revolves around one woman, Ah Yan, but we never hear from her directly. Instead, we hear from three men whose lives intersected with hers in various ways. Ian Ferguson, a white American gunner’s man, Pastor Billy, a white American-born missionary, and Liu Zhaohu, a Chinese soldier born in the same village as Ah Yan.

I thought this stylistic choice might have been to show how little agency Ah Yan had over her own life. As a teenager, she’s brutalised by Japanese soldiers, found by Pastor Billy who, as well as a missionary, has extensive medical training. Her life’s course changes then, looked down upon by almost everyone after her horrific ordeal. But she is loved by each of the three men in their own ways, fatherly or romantic or platonic. I wasn’t really on board with Pastor Billy, given the age gap between him and Ah Yan. But Zhang Ling does a great job of showing how selfish love can be. Each of three men has a different name for this one woman, not caring what her preference is.

The translation is beautiful, I loved the language! And I read that the author was able to undertake field trips to a SACO camp and she also talked with living SACO (Sino-American Cooperative Organisations) trainees. This shines through vividly in the sense of place and level of historic detail.

I think I would have enjoyed it more had we been able to hear from Ah Yan directly, but I understand (I think!) the author’s intention.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings