Lust, Caution
by: Eileen Chang
Published by: Anchor Books
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Reviewed by Sarah van Ingen
(Afterword by film director Ang Lee and essay by James Shamus. Translated with a Foreword by Julia Lovell)
Anchor Books has printed Eileen Chang’s short story, Lust Caution, just as it is about to be released as a major motion picture. Talking place in Japanese-occupied Shanghai of the 1940s, this storyline is equal parts spy-thriller and love affair. Chang’s vivid descriptions of decadent Shanghai are candy for the imagination, and yet it’s the heart and mind of heroine Chia Chih that hold the imagination captive. Chia Chih’s story is told in only fifty pages, and yet I think one could spend a lifetime trying to understand this complex heroine. Why did she decide to do it? Was it worth it?
Though it is rich in character, I found this short story difficult to follow at first. Lust, Caution is incredibly terse. Eileen Chang packs quite a bit of punch in every single line of this short story. In fact, her word economy is so tight that I found myself confused in a few places. Anchor Books has helped out by packaging the short story along with an informative introduction by translator Julia Lovell, a reflection by film director Ang Lee, and a thoughtful essay by James Shamus.
I highly recommend reading these extra features as they add clarity and depth to the reading experience. In fact, I think this book would be a good pick for a summer book club. The afterward and the essay pose some great discussion questions, and they help to illuminate some of the deeper complexities in the story.
Lust, Caution is a short story that will sear itself into your memory for a long time. Thoughts of love, betrayal, trust, deception—these will all swirl around in your mind as you ponder the unexpected turn-of-events in this short story.
Author Eileen Chang, who herself lived in occupied Shanghai, has succeeded in sifting out the human element from the revolutionary events of her day.
Armchair Interviews says: A thought-provoking read worth your time.
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