River town : two years on the Yangtze
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In the heart of Sichuan's Fuling, a city long distanced from the political hustle of Beijing and Shanghai, change is on the horizon. As Fuling evolves, it becomes a site of tension, reform, and growth, while its residents grapple with the uncertain future. Peter Hessler arrived in 1996 as a Peace Corps volunteer, marking the first American presence in over fifty years. Teaching English and American literature at the local college, he explored how Western classics resonate with students shaped by the Communist Party's teachings. His students, in turn, educated him about the complexities of Fuling and the nuances of a radically different society. Hessler's immersion reveals a pivotal moment for the city, balancing its troubled Communist past—including land reform struggles and the Cultural Revolution's impact—with the impending changes brought by the Three Gorges Dam, which threatens to flood Fuling and displace over a million people. Through his travels across Sichuan, he vividly portrays the diverse individuals he encounters, from priests to peasants, sharing their perspectives. This narrative blends Hessler's personal experiences with rich descriptions of the landscape and history, creating an imaginative and poignant account of a city navigating its identity amid transformation.
