This Chinese bestseller by its acclaimed author is considered by many to be a literary masterpiece, but overall I found it unengaging, and although I did stick with it and got to the end, there were many times I felt like giving up. The main reason for this was that I couldn’t relate to the main characters, particularly the eponymous Colonel – or Eunuch as he is often called. He’s an enigmatic, mysterious character, about whom rumours, gossip and myths abound but who failed, for me, to come alive. We have an unreliable narrator, which doesn’t help, a young boy growing up in rural China, who seems to be obsessed by the Colonel, but who even as an adult makes no real attempt to find out the truth, being seemingly satisfied to listen to the rumours and avoid delving too deeply. The first two parts of the novel take place in China through the turbulent period of the Communist takeover, and it certainly helps to have some prior knowledge of this era, otherwise many of the attitudes and actions will be opaque. The third part takes place some 21 years later when our narrator has moved abroad and is reflecting back and still trying to make sense of the Colonel. Hero, villain, or traitor? It’s a sprawling tale and although it offers a glimpse into Chinese culture I didn’t feel that it offers much insight. There’s a lot of profanity and graphic sex, which adds nothing to the narrative, and although it probably reflects Chinese attitudes, doesn’t make for pleasant reading. There’s a central mystery about a tattoo that the Colonel has on his stomach but I couldn’t really see the point of the fuss about it, plus much about the shame of being called a sodomite, which is a theme throughout the book, but doesn’t, I felt, help the reader get a handle on the characters. It’s all quite long-winded and repetitive, too. All in all I didn’t enjoy the book and don’t see why it is considered such a masterpiece.

Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century rural China, this novel follows a young boy who grows up in a small village steeped in tales about the Colonel, a figure shrouded in both reverence and controversy. Known to some as a hero and to others as a traitor, the Colonel's true identity remains a mystery that haunts the boy's youth.

As China undergoes dramatic transformations, the boy matures into a man, and his obsession with the Colonel endures. It is only in middle age that he uncovers the truth behind the Colonel's enigmatic legacy. The narrative captures the weight of shame and the complex interplay of history and personal discovery.

While the pacing is deliberate and the novel's many nicknames can be challenging, the story offers a deeply immersive experience. An understanding of twentieth-century Chinese history, particularly the Sino-Japanese War, enhances the reading experience, though it is not a prerequisite. Mai Jia intricately explores rural Chinese life, blending rumor and superstition to reveal the life of a man who has become almost mythical in his village.

This was a great book and so well written. It was so well translated too. Despite the hardship and the dreadful times during the war this was a mesmerising story that took you away from that. A great read and thoroughly enjoyed it

An evocative and descriptive book, perhaps overmuch at times at the cost of narrative and engagement both with character and plot. Strong in portrayal of rural life, hardships and related aspects of the everyday in the context of the times. You don't necessarily need to be fully up to speed on historic details to grasp the thrust of this, which is more on the level of personal experience. The core story (related to the title) opens up as the book goes on. Which is fine, though it is the portrayal of life that stands out more.

I'm sorry, this book is just not for me. I don't like the writing style, the content is boring and I just cannot get along with it, despite giving it a fair crack.
Not my cuppa; there are too many good books out there waiting to be read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Completely spellbinding read. Without NetGalley would never have picked up this extraordinary novel. The writing is so beautiful and descriptive. Scenery, nature, village life even though tough in hot summer.
"Grandpa used to tell me that Head Mountain used to be a dragon -" great first line sets the scene for the child growing up but how evocative are the Chinese in their culture. At 10 years old the narrator takes in all the stories from his elders but puts them against the often terrifying and violent back drop of 1935 Chiang Kai Shek and the Colonel/Eunuch in the army against the Japanese. I learnt a lot about the history of the time and how children were exposed to harsh conditions and experiences (suicides of people in village drinking pesticides) Already his twin sister had died when 5 years old so he has had to grow up quite quickly and the whole novel is perfectly pitched in his growing maturity and realisation about those he has grown up with.
Incredible find. No wonder it was a Chinese No 1 bestseller.

The Colonel and the Eunuch by Mai Jia is a stunning literary work which is reminiscent of Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xuequin, but for the
20th century. Bravely written, huge heart and a stunning translation that is accurate and sensitive to the timbre of the original text. I cannot revere this book enough

An observation of chinese culture, coming of age and a journey through history observed through th eeyes of the narrator. I try not to use the term "unputdownable" but I will as an exception here as I truly believe I have just finished a new piece of outstanding Chinese literature which will certainly become a classic

Thank you to Netgalley, Head of Zeus | Apollo and Mai Jia for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A historical fiction, a coming of age, the description of life in rural China and how the image and the lore about a man can change according to who is telling the story.
Loved it and loved how it talks about the changes in China and its inhabitants.
An excellent story well translated.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A well translated so that it retained the feel of rural China during times of great upheaval and change. I struggled a bit with the first part, getting used to the characters and their language especially the Old Constable but as we really got in to the story of The Colonel the story openened up and came to life for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Colonel and the Eunuch

‘The Colonel and the Eunuch were different names for the same person.’

Twentieth century rural China provides the setting for this novel. Our protagonist, a boy, has grown up in a small village listening to stories about the Colonel, whom some call the Eunuch. As the story gradually unfolds, we learn why some consider the Colonel a hero and others consider him a traitor. The boy wonders: is the Colonel a Eunuch? Who can answer this question?
The boy grows to manhood at a time when China in undergoing rapid change. But he never forgets the Colonel and, as he himself grows into middle age, he learns the truth.

‘I didn’t know shame could weigh so much that it could break someone.’

I found this an absorbing read. Yes, it is slow paced. Yes, almost every character has at least one nickname and at times I really had to concentrate – much as I imagine the boy had to as the story began. While I think the novel is easier to understand if you have some knowledge of twentieth century Chinese history (especially of the war between China and Japan), such knowledge is not essential. Mai Jia takes the reader deep into Chinese rural life, through rumour and superstition into the life of a man who has been elevated within the village to a near mythic status.

Mai Jia shows more intimate view of twentieth century life in China, one in which the Colonel retains his mystery until near the end. Was he a hero? Was he a villain? Who can be trusted?

I intend to reread this novel. The setting is an important part of the story, but in my first read I was more focused on trying to learn the ‘truth’ about the Colonel.

‘A person has two sides, like a coin. There’s a good side and a bad side.’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I enjoyed this very much to start with. I thought the Colonel/Eunuch was an intriguing and very interesting character and loved the way different people in the village reacted to him. I liked the writing, albeit in translation. But I found it became a little long winded and repetitive, which was a shame.

A little disappointed with this one - as a fan of sprawling historical novels. I found it hard to follow, however I also know very little about Chinese history, so lacked the tools to locate the narrative. Writing was beautiful though

This is a coming-of-age story of a different kind. A boy – the narrator - growing up in China during the years of the political and social chaos caused by the cultural revolution is trying to solve the puzzle of the enigmatic Colonel/Eunuch. Colonel to some and Eunuch to others, was a good friend of the boy’s father and fought at various stages for all sides during the political upheaval. This journey allows the reader glimpses into China’s recent history, including the Japanese occupation, the civil war and the rise of Communism. This I found very fragmented and one-dimensional due to the meandering story and the way it is told.

The story illustrates the hardship people went through during those times and poses questions about the heroism of survival, but I found it impossible to empathise with any of its characters. This is mainly due to the very descriptive style of narration, which may well be intended but didn’t do anything for me.

I am proud to have finished this book. Having read so much praise about it, I kept waiting for the key moment that would open it up for me. Sadly, it never came.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Head of Zeus / Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of this book really interested me, I enjoy historical fiction but this one wasn’t my cup of tea!
While it offers glimpses into Chinese culture and history, the excessive crude language made it hard to read/enjoy. It’s not what I thought it would be. Probably more of a me issue as it’s considered to be a bestseller and literary masterpiece by others.

A sprawling tale which spans much of the twentieth century through the eyes of our protagonist. He grows up in a remote village where everyone had a nickname and one of the adults was the Colonel. Some also called him the Eunuch. The tone is hazy, time feels somewhat superfluous and the novel doesn't narrate things chronologically so if you don't have a working understanding of Chinese history, some parts may be confusing. Through various events, our protagonist ends up overseas and with that, plus time, he gains some perspective on these events.

Given that the Colonel is the Eunuch, I'm not sure why the book is titled as it is - would "Colonel, Eunuch" or "Colonel: Eunuch?" work better? It's also worth saying that a number of the characters spend a lot of time discussing sex and women in crude terms. I'm not sure if that's a difference between cultures or how people from a remote Chinese village would have spoken at the time. As a reader, it's off-putting and means that the novel would probably have a 15 or even an 18 rating were it a film.

Life in the village is clearly very tough and given how casually our narrator brings it up, that drinking pesticide was the easiest way to escape was such a normal part of life that no-one batted an eyelid at it. So, so tragic.

Given the volume of unnecessary profanity, the lack of time markers and my feelings of "meh" towards the protagonist, I dragged myself through this one so it's not one I can recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A tale spanning the turbulent years of recent Chinese history seen through the eyes of one young boy growing up in a small village and influenced by his grandfather and elders.

The story of the Colonel was told mainly in terms of peasants gossip and if I’m completely honest I didn’t really care about him or his tattoo. I felt that whilst massive changes were taking place in the world this book concentrates on largely uneducated people in an unappealing village. A very long book with, in my opinion, little to say.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Colonel or eunuch or both, that is the question the whole village is wondering. One extraordinary man's story through the eyes of a child and the words of the village, until the child grows up and discovers the truth. Fascinating characters and setting.

The Colonel and the Eunuch spans the lifetime of the narrator, We learn about the culture, relationships and violence within the town they both live in. The Colonel to some, the Eunuch to others, he is a mystery for most of the book. As we move into the narrator's story as an adult, everything falls into place and the harsh language and treatment throughout paints a picture of the time and the political climate. It's an era that I had little knowledge of previously but I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoy historical fiction but I did not enjoy this book.
The last quarter was the best part. The first three quarters had so much bad language I nearly
gave up reading it. Some parts are quite slow.
I would not recommend this book.

This was a well translated and written book. It has a charm to it, filled with characters who are well developed and endearing, even the awful ones! In the midst of a very unstable and politically fraught era, the cultural revolution underpins the goings on in the village. A worthwhile read. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.