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桑青與桃紅
桑青與桃紅
本書以近代中國政治動亂的時代為背景，敘述主角人格分裂的悲劇。桑青、桃紅實為女主角同人，代表她的兩種身分，整個故事正是她人格上分裂蛻變的經過。開始時，她是桑青，一個純真的中國內地女孩；結尾時她成了桃紅，在美國遊蕩的縱慾狂人。作者以此來寓言近代中國的悲慘情況，但作者寫的是人，而非政治。
本書以印象式的速寫形式，強烈的爭議話題，是作者最具特色之代表作。
本書以近代中國政治動亂的時代為背景，敘述主角人格分裂的悲劇。桑青、桃紅實為女主角同人，代表她的兩種身分，整個故事正是她人格上分裂蛻變的經過。開始時，她是桑青，一個純真的中國內地女孩；結尾時她成了桃紅，在美國遊蕩的縱慾狂人。作者以此來寓言近代中國的悲慘情況，但作者寫的是人，而非政治。
本書以印象式的速寫形式，強烈的爭議話題，是作者最具特色之代表作。
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
18 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
聶華苓
4 books1 follower出生於武漢，畢業於南京中央大學外文系，1949年抵台定居，並從事創作。1960年加入雷震創辦的《自由中國》半月刊擔任藝文版主編，直至該刊被迫停刊。
先後應臺靜農之邀赴台灣大學任教、徐復觀之邀前往台中東海大學兼課。1963年與訪華的保羅‧安格爾於酒會相識，受其邀請赴美訪問，隔年即定居美國，任教於愛荷華大學，兩人並於1971年結婚。
聶華苓與保羅‧安格爾最廣為人知的，莫過於兩人於1967年創辦愛荷華大學「國際寫作計劃」（IWP），透過「愛荷華作家工作坊」集結來自世界各地的作家，以期促成創造性寫作。
作品「桑青與桃紅」英譯本Beacon Press在1990年獲得「美國書卷獎」（American Book Award）
聶華苓對國際文化交流貢獻卓著，更因連結世界各地作家、推動世界各國交流與往來，而獲諾貝爾和平獎提名。由此而被眾多作家譽為「文壇永遠的母親」、「世界文學組織之母」，感念她對文學的努力與奉獻。
在即將滿百歲之際，於美國愛荷華家中過世，享壽99歲。
先後應臺靜農之邀赴台灣大學任教、徐復觀之邀前往台中東海大學兼課。1963年與訪華的保羅‧安格爾於酒會相識，受其邀請赴美訪問，隔年即定居美國，任教於愛荷華大學，兩人並於1971年結婚。
聶華苓與保羅‧安格爾最廣為人知的，莫過於兩人於1967年創辦愛荷華大學「國際寫作計劃」（IWP），透過「愛荷華作家工作坊」集結來自世界各地的作家，以期促成創造性寫作。
作品「桑青與桃紅」英譯本Beacon Press在1990年獲得「美國書卷獎」（American Book Award）
聶華苓對國際文化交流貢獻卓著，更因連結世界各地作家、推動世界各國交流與往來，而獲諾貝爾和平獎提名。由此而被眾多作家譽為「文壇永遠的母親」、「世界文學組織之母」，感念她對文學的努力與奉獻。
在即將滿百歲之際，於美國愛荷華家中過世，享壽99歲。
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 29, 2021
台灣新版的標準字還有美國版的封面都挺有趣，然後英文書名是 Mulberry and Peach，桑葚＆桃子，原來桑葉跟桑葚是同樣的植物嗎？（可能顏色的印象差太多了我有點震驚）
這本小說實在太有名，實際打開前就看過有點太多的介紹，本來以為只是完成個 checklist，結果可能是寫法特殊，看得很是沉迷且完全沒有被劇透過的感覺。
小說分成四節：逃難的四川、紛亂的北平、躲藏的台北、瘋狂的美國
（形容詞都是我自己加的）
喜歡前三節，最後雖然沒有那麼易讀但也覺得很適合，末尾收在帝女雀填海和聶華苓自己寫的「桑青與桃紅流放小記」真的很好很好，也有點唏噓。
然後覺得白先勇的專文「世紀性的漂泊者——重讀《桑青與桃紅》」還好（氣音）
這本小說實在太有名，實際打開前就看過有點太多的介紹，本來以為只是完成個 checklist，結果可能是寫法特殊，看得很是沉迷且完全沒有被劇透過的感覺。
小說分成四節：逃難的四川、紛亂的北平、躲藏的台北、瘋狂的美國
（形容詞都是我自己加的）
喜歡前三節，最後雖然沒有那麼易讀但也覺得很適合，末尾收在帝女雀填海和聶華苓自己寫的「桑青與桃紅流放小記」真的很好很好，也有點唏噓。
然後覺得白先勇的專文「世紀性的漂泊者——重讀《桑青與桃紅》」還好（氣音）
July 27, 2010
Very political. But I am so glad I read this book. It was afamous book in taiwan (banned at some point)- so I was surprised I was engaging in conversations with other women about this novel. They read it in their own language - so it's very impressive to be able to bridge thoughts and ideas with other people through this novel. Wow - literature has no boundaries, no matter what language they are in!
March 8, 2010
This has to be one of the most underrated pieces of literature from the 20th Century. The structure and poetics uniquely conveys the fractured identities of Chinese women who have had to deal with the various forms of struggles in our modern world. Though I'm sure we would don't get the full impact in English, it is still very much worth reading.
November 21, 2019
An amazing novel-- historical allegory, a nuanced exploration of the effects of trauma, alienation, sexual exploitation, and imprisonment on a woman's psyche, a kind of American road trip picaresque in places, with Gothic themes, cannibalism, dissociative identity disorder, and Chinese folklore all thrown in the mix. Do read it if you get the chance, and if you do, try to get the edition of the novel with an afterword by Sau-ling Cynthia Wong; the afterword provides some thoughtful analysis, plus a GREAT deal of historical, cultural, and linguistic context that this non-Chinese reader found invaluable. Ultimately, MULBERRY AND PEACH is that rare text that I can confidently describe as both "very experimental" and "a pretty fast, easy read"; this is a *fun* book, for all its depth, and for all its serious, tragic, and grotesque subject matter. Read it once to enjoy the crazy ride, then read it again to think about every authorial choice Nieh has made as carefully as possible.
December 23, 2012
Hua-Ling Nieh's writing is tantamount to dreaming a song/story, it does not directly appeal to the senses but rather, enters the reader's mind subconsciously. A fascinating portrayal of a woman surviving post World War II turmoil in China, it blatantly and delicately explores the impact of the cultural, lingual, political, and social upheaval that is part of revolution. Mulberry herself undergoes a complete dissociation of her 'hated', 'weaker' Chinese self and morphs into Peach, the 'liberated', 'strong' American self. A wonderful story of survival, mental illness, and cultural transplantation, something many Americans do not appreciate. Should appeal to anyone interested in Chinese or Chinese/American history, feminism, or mental illness in literature.
March 25, 2021
This is such a classic of Asian women’s literature. Schizophrenic, sex, desire, diaspora politics’ conscience and multinational identity. Really recommended.
March 22, 2023
read this for class. conceptually very interesting. i think it could be better written. also just hella confusing at the end
October 11, 2025
Not even sure how to start with this text - very (wonderfully) dense and rich with a very postmodern pastiche of the historical, allegorical, and epistolary novel; Mulberry's diary entries are interspersed with radio broadcasts and other forms of communication, as well as maps and drawings. It's extremely visceral and corporeal, but, as unsettling as many scenes are to read, I think it quite effectively images Mulberry's and Peach's anguish stemming from cultural upheaval and displacement. It thematizes history (both of a specific place and as a concept/construct), memory, trauma, migration, nation-state politics, gender, sex(uality) and labor, and the construction of identity as it relates to all of the aforementioned, almost to the point of oversaturation - you could easily spend an hour unpacking each page. Two hours if you don't have an awareness of modern Chinese history and politics (Wong's afterword is helpful).
It deserves to be read critically, of course, but as I was reading I found that it was worthwhile to not try very hard... to just sit and *feel* the text, let it wash over me. It kind of steals into your subconsciousness. Certain moments feel hallucinatory, like when you're drifting off to sleep and you're just a little delirious and you feel like the world is spinning. All in all, it's an intensely stirring tale - incredible for how its about a very specific cultural and political moment in Chinese history but also feels so universal in its address of fraught identity. I wonder what changes occurred in translation from Chinese to English.
It deserves to be read critically, of course, but as I was reading I found that it was worthwhile to not try very hard... to just sit and *feel* the text, let it wash over me. It kind of steals into your subconsciousness. Certain moments feel hallucinatory, like when you're drifting off to sleep and you're just a little delirious and you feel like the world is spinning. All in all, it's an intensely stirring tale - incredible for how its about a very specific cultural and political moment in Chinese history but also feels so universal in its address of fraught identity. I wonder what changes occurred in translation from Chinese to English.
January 5, 2025
I decided to read this book shortly after Nieh died late last year. I was fascinated by her story and had read good things about Mulberry and Peach.
My first impression upon finishing it was that it was an extraordinary work of fiction. A feminist allegory for the trauma and misery China endured as it was hurdled into modernity in the 20th century, Nieh’s work is a melding of eastern and western literary traditions. Having lived in Taiwan for the past more than decade, and spent some time in China, I was enthralled by her use of dual narrative, nonlinear structure, and mythology to tell this story. The translators also did a masterful job of bringing those elements into compelling prose.
That said, the book is complex and challenging, with some sections difficult to completely comprehend, especially to those with little background in China’s history. But for those who stick it through, it is well worth it.
My first impression upon finishing it was that it was an extraordinary work of fiction. A feminist allegory for the trauma and misery China endured as it was hurdled into modernity in the 20th century, Nieh’s work is a melding of eastern and western literary traditions. Having lived in Taiwan for the past more than decade, and spent some time in China, I was enthralled by her use of dual narrative, nonlinear structure, and mythology to tell this story. The translators also did a masterful job of bringing those elements into compelling prose.
That said, the book is complex and challenging, with some sections difficult to completely comprehend, especially to those with little background in China’s history. But for those who stick it through, it is well worth it.
September 16, 2020
Somewhere between a 3 and 4. 3.5? This is a challenging, layered text which much to offer the reader. A pioneering story, ahead of its time, follows a traumatized young woman experiencing dissociative identity disorder that parallels living through many political upheavals in 20th century China. I definitely appreciated this book but it is not an easy or enjoyable read. I think it helped that I've read quite a few books focused on China this year so I was familiar with some of the context. But definitely needed the afterword.
September 18, 2023
I found the parts of the story set in China and Taiwan to be much more gripping and interesting than the parts set in America. The parts in America seemed to be reaching for the abstract/surreal/impressionist, but for some reason (translation maybe? missed references?) never seemed to hit levels needed to justify the lack of plot compared with the parts in China and Taiwan.
That said, the book overall has a very compelling intensity and that "horror in slow motion" that really zoomed in historical fiction can achieve so well.
That said, the book overall has a very compelling intensity and that "horror in slow motion" that really zoomed in historical fiction can achieve so well.
December 23, 2021
being very generous with the rating because i didn’t actually enjoy the process of reading this ALL the time but well. anything less would feel like an affront to the level of skill shown in this.. anyway not going to copy paste my sg review but HER MIND HER WRITING INSANE ! like for a 200 page novel there is SO much here to unpack.. tiring as it was, i feel like my mind has been expanded by this novel. so 5 stars for literary genius
March 14, 2024
This was so good!!! Not every genre-bending book is also fun to read, but I thought that this one was. The split-personality format felt like an unusual and creative way to talk about surviving political turmoil/atrocity, and then trying to start a “new life” in exile. I feel like Nieh caught something that’s hard to describe, about the depth of the fissure between the old world and the new.
April 18, 2020
One of the best books I’ve ever read
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May 27, 2020好喜歡白先勇的後記
October 4, 2022
3.5 - had to read this book in both English and Chinede to grasp the context, a lot is lost in translation for the English version
September 14, 2024
三年後重讀。驚人之天才
December 18, 2025
（后续补一下未删节原版）形式设计和行文控制上太有意思了 尤其是最后一节的桑青日记中故意省略标点的处理 让读者直观地感受到了滑向边缘的精神状态何如//李欧梵老师的评文写得很诚恳 人生也好研究也好 兜兜转转似乎总是绕不开来处
March 6, 2017
this book was so fuckin awful...... it was literal garbage tbh. no idea what was going on, there was sex everywhere???? for basically no discernible reason???? and everyone was annoying, bye.
May 16, 2015
3.5 stars, An Enlightening Read
Mulberry and Peach was certainly an enlightening book. It's extremely far from all other books I read (and I really wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been assigned) but I did read it and I ended up liking it.
Nieh's writing style is one of the most unique I have ever encountered. The patchwork-style writing, the different mediums (diary, letter, notes, newspaper clippings) were refreshing. In many other books, I wouldn't have liked this, and I tend not to. But for Mulberry and Peach, the style simply worked. Even through the English translation, many themes shone through (though unfortunately there was unavoidably some lost as well).
I learned so, so much about the historical context of Asia, a region I do not usually read a lot about. The afterword was also very interesting, and helped me realize how many of the symbols and themes carried over to Chinese history.
The best part about this novel is that it was so raw. There were no unnecessary embellishments, fancy turns of phrase. It rang with a clarity and simplicity, yet also had very potent messages.
(This feels like a school write-up. But I'd encourage you to read it, if you have time to spare. It isn't long, and truly a very interesting read that will stay with you for very long.)
Mulberry and Peach was certainly an enlightening book. It's extremely far from all other books I read (and I really wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been assigned) but I did read it and I ended up liking it.
Nieh's writing style is one of the most unique I have ever encountered. The patchwork-style writing, the different mediums (diary, letter, notes, newspaper clippings) were refreshing. In many other books, I wouldn't have liked this, and I tend not to. But for Mulberry and Peach, the style simply worked. Even through the English translation, many themes shone through (though unfortunately there was unavoidably some lost as well).
I learned so, so much about the historical context of Asia, a region I do not usually read a lot about. The afterword was also very interesting, and helped me realize how many of the symbols and themes carried over to Chinese history.
The best part about this novel is that it was so raw. There were no unnecessary embellishments, fancy turns of phrase. It rang with a clarity and simplicity, yet also had very potent messages.
(This feels like a school write-up. But I'd encourage you to read it, if you have time to spare. It isn't long, and truly a very interesting read that will stay with you for very long.)
February 28, 2014
What did I just read?
I've read (auto)biographical books about women, I've read Chinese history and Chinese history about women and emigration/immigration, and even about mental illness (whether the reader finds it true or not, at one point Mulberry/Peach is described as schizophrenic) but I have not read anything like this before.
If you're interested in any of those topics, read a different book.
If you need them all together in one book, in first person, with rambling sentences that don't end before starting another, and characters that don't get developed before moving on, well, maybe this one is for you.
I've read (auto)biographical books about women, I've read Chinese history and Chinese history about women and emigration/immigration, and even about mental illness (whether the reader finds it true or not, at one point Mulberry/Peach is described as schizophrenic) but I have not read anything like this before.
If you're interested in any of those topics, read a different book.
If you need them all together in one book, in first person, with rambling sentences that don't end before starting another, and characters that don't get developed before moving on, well, maybe this one is for you.
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May 25, 2015Translated with Jane Parrish Yang as an International Writing Program Project in Iowa
September 18, 2009
If you like good or even mediocre writing and don't want to read nasty stuff, never ever read this book. I usually only post books I liked, but this was bad enough for a warning...
July 25, 2013
What even was this. I guess I liked it?
August 9, 2024
看了兩遍還是不敢說自己看懂了。
有很多別出心裁的寫作手法，特別喜歡其中用了很多短句、且每句分段的敘事方式，有種用鐵鎚將句子一下下釘進心臟的衝擊感，一種快到讓人喘不過氣卻又停不下來的感覺？
有很多別出心裁的寫作手法，特別喜歡其中用了很多短句、且每句分段的敘事方式，有種用鐵鎚將句子一下下釘進心臟的衝擊感，一種快到讓人喘不過氣卻又停不下來的感覺？
August 7, 2010
Hell yes.
April 11, 2010
Loaned to Adam H
June 22, 2017
This was an extraordinary piece of modern literature and I am shocked that I didn't know about Nieh's body of work before reading Mulberry and Peach. Genre-wise, Nieh's Mulberry and Peach cannot be categorized. Nieh has used a range of storytelling methods that produce an entirely original novel.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews