The Banished Immortal

Praise

“A deeply empathetic portrait of a literary genius whose vicissitudes in life . . . would pale a Shakespearean drama.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Ha Jin narrates the poet’s unusual life with erudition. . . . Writing about Li Bai—his life, his work, and his country—Jin finally returns home.” —The New Yorker 

“A fluently told story, mysterious yet familiar, tragic yet sometimes comical. Ha Jin is a master storyteller.” —Robert Pinsky

“Ha Jin tells Li’s story with insight and empathy.” —The New Yorker (briefly noted)

“An affectionate and thoughtful portrait of a complicated man and a master poet. . . . American readers’ Western bias has left the Chinese poet Li Bai less well-known here than in his native land, where he is considered a foundational writer. [The Banished Immortal] is a worthy corrective and an engaging introduction to the poet’s life and work.” —BookPage

“Ha Jin’s masterful style and deep affection for his subject make the book a pleasure to read. . . A number of readers will pick up this book knowing its author but not Li Bai, and Ha Jin makes sure they see Bai’s prodigious talent.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“A taut introduction to the life and poetry of the influential eighth-century Daoist poet . . . Ha Jin’s polished biography will give a wider audience access to the politics and beauty of a major Chinese poet.” —Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

“Award-winning novelist and poet Jin offers a glimpse into the life of one of China’s most celebrated poets . . . Scholarly and emotionally engaging . . . Essential.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“[Bai’s] life as distinguished poet and fiction writer Ha Jin so limpidly relays it was peripatetic. . . . Yet he was an unstaunchable fount of poems of friendship, drinking, dancing, nostalgia, and regret. . . . Bai still stands, with his friend Du Fu, at the pinnacle of Chinese poetry, and his influence is extensive the world over.” —Booklist