A magical, vast and curious story.

The painterly quality of Tong's words is striking

A gripping, insightful depiction of the lives of commoners under the Qin Dynasty

In Peach village, crying is forbidden. But as a child, Binu never learnt to hide her tears. Shunned by the villagers, she faced a bleak future, until she met Qiliang, an orphan who offered her his hand in marriage.Then one day Qiliang disappears. Binu learns that he has been transported hundreds of miles and forced to labour on a project of terrifying ambition and scale - the building of the Great Wall.Binu is determined to find and save her husband. Inspired by her love, she sets out on an extraordinary journey towards Great Swallow mountain, with only a blind frog for company. What follows is an unforgettable story of passion, hardship and magical adventure.

In Peach village, crying is forbidden. But as a child, Binu never learnt to hide her tears. Shunned by the villagers, she faced a bleak future, until she met Qiliang, an orphan who offered her his hand in marriage. Then one day, Qiliang disappears. Binu learns that he has been transported hundreds of miles and forced to labour on a project of terrifying ambition and scale - the building of the Great Wall. Binu is determined to find and save her husband. Inspired by her love, she sets out on an extraordinary journey across Great Swallow Mountain, with only a blind frog for company. What follows is an unforgettable story of passion, hardship and magical adventure. £12.99

When her husband vanishes from their home, Binu is determined to find him. Her journey will take her across Great Swallow Mountain to a place where armies of men are labouring on one of the greatest building projects the world has ever seen: The Great Wall of China. Through Binu's extraordinary story, Su Tong illuminates one of China's most magical myths. It is an unforgettable adventure. Translated by Howard Goldblatt www.canongate.net ISBN 978 1 84195 904 7