A masterful collection of short stories exploring love, loyalty, and the human spirit in post-Cultural Revolution China.
 
In twelve unforgettable tales, Ha Jin, the National Book Award–winning author of Waiting, illuminates the complexities of ordinary lives in a rapidly changing China. From a soldier’s forbidden romance to a businessman’s quiet rebellion against conformity, these stories reveal humor, longing, and resilience in the face of social and political constraint.
 
In The Bridegroom, Ha Jin blends wit, irony, and deep compassion to portray characters navigating a society caught between tradition and modernization. Each story captures a moment of moral or emotional reckoning—whether a factory worker confronting corruption, a father protecting his family’s honor, or a young man discovering forbidden love.
 
Ha Jin’s precise, understated prose gives voice to people rarely heard, revealing the universality of desire, hope, and dignity. His storytelling invites readers into private worlds shaped by both personal yearning and state-imposed limits.
 
Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, The Bridegroom stands as a powerful testament to courage and humanity under pressure, told with humor, restraint, and beauty.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
Twelve elegant, thought-provoking stories from an acclaimed author.
Balances political insight with emotional intimacy.
Universal themes of love, freedom, and self-discovery.
Perfect for readers who enjoy subtle, character-driven fiction.
Award-winning prose praised for clarity and compassion.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Jhumpa Lahiri, Yiyun Li, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Readers of international and cultural short fiction.
Book clubs exploring moral choice and modern Chinese life.
Anyone who appreciates finely crafted literary stories.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed The Bridegroom, you might also like:
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri — identity and belonging in diaspora.
Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Li — quiet, emotional stories of modern China.
Waiting by Ha Jin — a moving novel of love and duty.