"A funny and sensual satire." Independent on Sunday, "IN THE SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE" is a provocative satire of Mao Zedong's regime. Writer Yan Lianke tells the story of a pair of lovers who discover that small acts of rebellion, such as breaking statues of Mao, increase their sexual appetite. Labeled as pornographic, Yan Lianke's book was banned in China: "Do not distribute, circulate, comment on, copy excerpts, or summarize..." reads an excerpt from the Chinese government's banning decree. Despite being censored, the work gained significant attention on online forums, attracting the attention of publishers around the world. The rights to the book have been sold to more than 15 countries, including the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan, and several film production companies are interested in Lianke's works. Wu Dawang is the epitome of a revolutionary soldier. At 28, he can recite the classics of the Cultural Revolution without forgetting a single word. His skill also extends to the kitchen, where he can, in less than thirty minutes, peel vegetables and prepare a succulent four-course meal and a soup. Observing the soldier's commitment, the Party appoints Wu Dawang as an orderly and private cook to the regimental colonel. But the young man catches the eye of the young and bored Liu Lian, the colonel's wife, who stands at the window watching Wu Dawang cultivate the residence's vegetable garden. Wu Dawang and Liu Lian become lovers and spend their days locked in the house. The couple discovers that breaking statues of the Great Helmsman is a great way to increase sexual appetite. Tearing pages from the Little Red Book and doodling pictures of Mao Zedong also proves to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Suddenly, Wu Dawang and Liu Lian find themselves involved in a fun game, a delightful (but dangerous) competition in which each tries to prove themselves more counter-revolutionary than the other. Yan Lianke hilariously presents an unforgettable novel that crushes (with the delicacy of a steamroller) the taboos of the Chinese army, the Cultural Revolution, and the hypocrisy of the Communist Party.
