Waiting

Set in contemporary China, the story follows Lin Kong, a military doctor caught between duty and desire, tradition and change. For over seventeen years, Lin has been in love with Manna Wu, an educated, modern woman who shares his ideals and ambitions. Yet each summer he returns to his rural village to ask his arranged wife—a humble, obedient woman chosen by his family—for a divorce. In a society where personal choices are bound by strict social codes and Party rules, Lin’s longing is slowly worn down by time, regulation, and the quiet weight of obligation.

As Lin’s hopes stretch across the years, Waiting becomes a tender, heartbreaking meditation on the costs of patience, the pressure of conformity, and the aching complexities of love. With spare, lyrical prose and profound emotional insight, Ha Jin offers a rare glimpse into a world often hidden from Western view—while telling a story that resonates across cultures and generations.

Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award.