The Banished Immortal : A Life of Li Bai (Li Po)

From The National Book Award-winning Author Of Waiting: A Narratively Driven, Deeply Human Biography Of The Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai, Also Known As Li Po. In His Own Time (701-762), Li Bai's Poems--shaped By Daoist Thought And Characterized By Their Passion, Romance, And Lust For Life--were Never Given Their Proper Due By The Official Literary Gatekeepers. Nonetheless, His Lines Rang Out On The Lips Of Court Entertainers, Tavern Singers, Soldiers, And Writers Throughout The Tang Dynasty, And His Deep Desire For A Higher, More Perfect World Gave Rise To His Nickname, The Banished Immortal. Today, Bai's Verses Are Still Taught To China's Schoolchildren And Recited At Parties And Toasts; They Remain An Inextricable Part Of The Chinese Language. With The Instincts Of A Master Novelist, Ha Jin Draws On A Wide Range Of Historical And Literary Sources To Weave The Great Poet's Life Story. He Follows Bai From His Origins On The Western Frontier To His Rambling Travels As A Young Man, Which Were Filled With Striving But Also With Merry Abandon, As He Raised Cups Of Wine With Friends And Fellow Poets. Ha Jin Also Takes Us Through The Poet's Later Years--in Which He Became Swept Up In A Military Rebellion That Altered The Course Of China's History--and The Mysterious Circumstances Of His Death, Which Are Surrounded By Legend. [this Book] Is An Extraordinary Portrait Of A Poet Who Both Transcended His Time And Was Shaped By It, And Whose Ability To Live, Love, And Mourn Without Reservation Produced Some Of The Most Enduring Verses.--dust Jacket. Origins -- Away From Home -- Back In His Hometown -- Leaving Sichuan -- Dissipation -- Marriage -- Married Life -- In The Capital -- Away From The Capital -- In The North -- In The South -- Moving To The Lu Region -- Women -- In The Capital Again -- Political Involvement -- The Meeting Of Two Stars -- Life In Transition -- On The Road Again -- New Marriage -- On The Northeastern Frontier -- Moving To The South -- An Unexpected Guest -- Escaping From The Rebels -- Imprisonment -- Disillusion And The End. Ha Jin. Includes Bibliographical References. Text In English; Poems In Original Chinese With English Translations. From the National Book Award-winning author of Waiting a narratively driven, deeply human biography of the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai--also known as Li Po In his own time (701-762), Li Bai's poems--shaped by Daoist thought and characterized by their passion, romance, and lust for life--were never given their proper due by the official literary gatekeepers. Nonetheless, his lines rang out on the lips of court entertainers, tavern singers, soldiers, and writers throughout the Tang dynasty, and his deep desire for a higher, more perfect world gave rise to his nickname, the Banished Immortal. Today, Bai's verses are still taught to China's schoolchildren and recited at parties and toasts; they remain an inextricable part of the Chinese language. With the instincts of a master novelist, Ha Jin draws on a wide range of historical and literary sources to weave the great poet's life story. He follows Bai from his origins on the western frontier to his ramblings travels as a young man, which were filled with filled with striving but also with merry abandon, as he raised cups of wine with friends and fellow poets. Ha Jin also takes us through the poet's later years--in which he became swept up in a military rebellion that altered the course of China's history--and the mysterious circumstances of his death, which are surrounded by legend. The Banished Immortal is an extraordinary portrait of a poet who both transcended his time and was shaped by it, and whose ability to live, love, and mourn without reservation produced some of the most enduring verses. "From the National Book Award-winning author of Waiting: a narratively driven, deeply human biography of the 8th century poet, Li Bai--also known as Li Po--one of the most beloved poets ever to emerge from China. With the instincts of a master novelist, Ha Jin draws on a wide range of historical and literary sources to weave the life story of Li Bai (701-762), whose poems--shaped by Daoist thought and characterized by their passion, romance, and lust for life--rang throughout the Tang Dynasty and continue to be celebrated today. Jin follows Li Bai from his birth on China's western frontier through his travels as a young man seeking a place among the empire's civil servants, his wanderings allowing him to hone his poetic craft, share his verses, and win him friends and admirers along the way. In his later years, he becomes swept up in a military rebellion that alters the course of China, and his death is surrounded by speculation and legend that continues to be spun to this day. The Banished Immortal is an extraordinary portrait of a poet who both transcended his time and was shaped by it, and whose ability to live, love, and mourn without reservation produced some of the most enduring verses in the world"-- Provided by publisher A portrait of the Tang Dynasty poet discusses his early life, travels, rebel history, and controversial death, offering further insights into the Daoist influences on his themes