Don Quixote in China: The Search for Peach Blossom Spring

by Dean Barrett

Overview

T’ao Yuan Ming, a 4th century Chinese poet, wrote of a mysterious utopia in the remote mountains of China, where generations of Chinese had isolated themselves from China’s wars and rebellions and knew nothing of the outside world. Sixteen centuries later, after sifting through clues leading him to believe it actually exists, Dean Barrett journeyed into China in search of this utopia.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940011493294
Publisher:	Dean Barrett
Publication date:	09/02/2011
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dean Barrett first arrived in Asia as a Chinese linguist with the Army Security Agency during the Vietnam War. He returned to the United States and received his Masters Degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii. He has lived in Asia for over 30 years, 17 of those years in Hong Kong. His writing on Asian themes has won several awards including the PATA Grand Prize for Excellence.

Barrett is the author of several novels set in Asia, including Memoirs of a Bangkok Warrior; Hangman’s Point – A novel of Hong Kong; Kingdom of Make-Believe: A novel of Thailand; Permanent Damage - three novellas with Chinese themes; Don Quixote in China: The Search for Peach Blossom Spring; and A Love Story: The China Memoirs of Thomas Rowley, an erotic manuscript set in 1862 China. His New York novel, Murder in China Red, is set in Manhattan starring a Chinese detective from Beijing. Other novels include detective novels set in Thailand: Skytrain to Murder and Permanent Damage.

He first became interested in China’s boat people in the 1970’s and wrote the text for a photobook on them entitled Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Several of his plays have been staged in New York City and elsewhere and his musical set in Hong Kong, Fragrant Harbour, was selected by the National Alliance for Musical Theater to be staged on 42nd Street.

Before returning to live in Thailand Barrett was a member of: Mystery Writers of America; Dramatists Guild; Private Eye Writers of America, BMI - librettist/lyricist.

Editorial Reviews

Barrett, the author of five novels set in Asia and a mystery novel set in New York City, explains that the concept of Peach Blossom Spring comes from the poetry of T'ao Ch'ien, who lived during the Eastern Chin dynasty (317-420 C.E.). Peach Blossom Spring is the poet's description of a utopia, which a fisherman enters to find great beauty and mystery. Though the utopia's residents treat the fisherman like royalty, he requests to leave. He attempts to find utopia again but fails to retrace his steps. Barrett has decided to take up the hunt, and this book chronicles his search on two separate ventures into China. The author speaks Chinese and has lived in Asia for 20 years, so he readily enters the lives of the people he meets, and readers end up feeling as if they have gotten an inside look at the world's most populous country. Barrett is insightful, knowledgeable, compassionate, spontaneous, and humorous, and he has produced an entertaining and perceptive book. Recommended for all libraries with Asian studies or travel collections.-Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Wondervu, CO Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Barrett, the author of seven novels set in Asia and a mystery novel set in New York City, explains that the concept of Peach Blossom Spring comes from the poetry of T'ao Ch'ien, who lived during the Eastern Chin dynasty (317-420 C.E.). Peach Blossom Spring is the poet's description of a utopia, which a fisherman enters to find great beauty and mystery. Though the utopia's residents treat the fisherman like royalty, he requests to leave. He attempts to find utopia again but fails to retrace his s

Melinda Leach

“Dean’s account of his search is often filled with hilarious episodes leaving the reader longing for more…entertaining and full of Chinese witticisms. I recommend this book to anyone having an interest in China.”
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Elaine Hurley

“The premise is intriguing. Taking an ancient description of utopia by one of China's most beloved poets, T'ao, as fact, Dean Barrett sets out to actually find Peach Blossom Spring. The first to admit that his theory might be "crackpot", Barrett nonetheless grasps the reader firmly by the hand and starts.
His eye for detail results in some priceless toss-aways: a nightclub drummer encased in bulletproof glass; men who fish in tiny bodies of water between rice fields; word-for-word cop

Janet Mann

“…I found myself captivated. Barrett has a deep and considered knowledge of things Chinese…and has a gift for expressing his passion for the country’s history and art. The characters he describes are fully fleshed out and fit nicely into the narrative. Although the book takes a while to get going, when Barrett finds his stride the book becomes a pleasant tale of an often ill-fated quest through baffling, modern China, packed with history and finely wrought details.

Daniel Cooper

If you've been waiting for Bill Bryson to "do" China, here's a book you're sure to enjoy. DEAN BARRETT expresses admiration for the travel writing of Paul Theroux, but Don Quixote in China: The Search for Peach Blossom Spring rather brings Bryson, or even P.J. O'Rourke, to mind: "The second you walked in the door, the experienced staff made up its mind about what it was you desired and either led you to a table and brought you a menu or else led you to a cubicle and brought you a woman. Either

Robert Stone