Carcanet Press - Midnight's Gate

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Bei Dao, described by Michael Hofmann as ‘one of the great poets of our time’, has gained international acclaim for his haunting interior poetic landscapes. Now he brings to the essay the elliptical precision of his poetry, combined with a diarist’s openness and humour.

These twenty pieces form a poet’s travelogue – since his exile from China in 1989, Bei Dao has lived in seven countries and visited many others. In his tales and descriptions of cities such as Copenhagen, Durham, Johannesburg, New York, Paris and Prague and in his stories of ordinary Chinese immigrants, as well as of literary, artistic and political figures, his thoughts and anecdotes convey a unique charm and insight.

Bei Dao

Chris Mattison

Matthew Fryslie

Matthew Fryslie is an Assistant Professor at Kainan University, Taiwan. ... read more

Praise for Bei Dao 'A lyrical masterpiece.'

Carol Muske-Dukes
'Bei Dao is among the strongest poetic impressions of my lifetime. To me, his poems are the work of a genius, a genius of juxtaposing, of simplicity, of acceleration, of tunneling through emblem and image.'

Michael Hofmann
'As with stereograms (magic-eye art), if we look at them long enough, a three-dimensional view of Bei Daoâs itinerant life in exile comes in and out of focus. From Beijing to West Berlin, Copenhagen to Hong Kong, the narrative thrust of this collection zigzags through his lifetime, while the 34 cantos themselves (in Jeffrey Yang's propulsive translation) are a nebula of worldly experience.'
Jack Hargreaves, China Book Review
'The language of Bei Dao's memoir, seamlessly translated by fellow poet Yang, is elegantly simple and guilelessly accessible....Winter white cabbage, vinyl records, pet rabbits, banned books, and first and last 'I love yous' provide intimate glimpses that 'open up' to reveal extraordinary, immediate testimony of challenges survived in a life intensely lived.'
Booklist of City Gate, Open Up (US edition, published by New Directions) 'This is a nuanced account of China in the era of the Cultural Revolution, seen through one young man's eyes. Since that young man became a poet, it is also beautifully textured, full of the sounds, sights, and scents of a Beijing that is no more.'
Publishers Weekly of City Gate, Open Up (US edition, published by New Directions)

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Midnight's Gate Bei Dao Edited by Chris Mattison Translated by Matthew Fryslie Imprint: Anvil Press Poetry Publisher: Carcanet Press Available as: Paperback (272 pages) (Pub. Nov 2007) 9780856463945 Out of Stock Description Author Reviews Bei Dao, described by Michael Hofmann as ‘one of the great poets of our time’, has gained international acclaim for his haunting interior poetic landscapes. Now he brings to the essay the elliptical precision of his poetry, combined with a diarist’s openness and humour. These twenty pieces form a poet’s travelogue – since his exile from China in 1989, Bei Dao has lived in seven countries and visited many others. In his tales and descriptions of cities such as Copenhagen, Durham, Johannesburg, New York, Paris and Prague and in his stories of ordinary Chinese immigrants, as well as of literary, artistic and political figures, his thoughts and anecdotes convey a unique charm and insight. Bei Dao ... read more Chris Mattison ... read more Matthew Fryslie Matthew Fryslie is an Assistant Professor at Kainan University, Taiwan. ... read more Praise for Bei Dao 'A lyrical masterpiece.' Carol Muske-Dukes 'Bei Dao is among the strongest poetic impressions of my lifetime. To me, his poems are the work of a genius, a genius of juxtaposing, of simplicity, of acceleration, of tunneling through emblem and image.' Michael Hofmann 'As with stereograms (magic-eye art), if we look at them long enough, a three-dimensional view of Bei Daoâs itinerant life in exile comes in and out of focus. From Beijing to West Berlin, Copenhagen to Hong Kong, the narrative thrust of this collection zigzags through his lifetime, while the 34 cantos themselves (in Jeffrey Yang's propulsive translation) are a nebula of worldly experience.' Jack Hargreaves, China Book Review 'The language of Bei Dao's memoir, seamlessly translated by fellow poet Yang, is elegantly simple and guilelessly accessible....Winter white cabbage, vinyl records, pet rabbits, banned books, and first and last 'I love yous' provide intimate glimpses that 'open up' to reveal extraordinary, immediate testimony of challenges survived in a life intensely lived.' Booklist of City Gate, Open Up (US edition, published by New Directions) 'This is a nuanced account of China in the era of the Cultural Revolution, seen through one young man's eyes. Since that young man became a poet, it is also beautifully textured, full of the sounds, sights, and scents of a Beijing that is no more.' Publishers Weekly of City Gate, Open Up (US edition, published by New Directions)	Share this... Quick Links Carcanet Poetry Carcanet Classics Carcanet Fiction Carcanet Film Lives and Letters PN Review Video Carcanet Celebrates 50 Years! The Carcanet Blog Tablets: Secrets of the Clay: Dunya Mikhail read more PN Review 278: Set 5: Mondo de Sunbrilo Translated by John Gallas read more Apple Thieves: Beverley Bie Brahic read more PN Review Creative Writing Prize: 'If Only Id Known Back Then' by Jack Morris read more Scattered Snows, to the North: Carl Phillips read more Gabriel Josipovici: Partita and A Winter in Zrau read more
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Midnight's Gate

Bei Dao

Edited by Chris Mattison

Translated by Matthew Fryslie