Half A Lifelong Romance by Eileen Chang

They were, he felt, like children who had made a terrible mistake' When shy young engineer Shijun meets factory worker Manzhen, he is captivated by her hopeful nature and gentle beauty, and a relationship between them quickly blossoms. But family pressures and events beyond their power soon destroy the possibility of their future together. Can the pair find their way back to each other? Or will the trauma of their past obscure the way? Set in 1930s Shanghai, Half a Lifelong Romance is a rich and moving tale of love, hopefulness and the malign forces that - despite our greatest efforts - can overwhelm us. Translated with an introduction by Karen S. Kingsbury 'A dazzling and distinctive writer.' The New York Times Book Review