In the Footsteps of Du Fu

By: Michael Wood

Narrated by: Michael Wood

A beautifully illustrated travelogue, chronicling the life and work of one of the world greatest poets.

Du Fu (712-70) is one of China’s greatest poets. His career coincided with periods of famine, war and huge upheaval, yet his secular philosophical vision, combined with his empathy for the common folk of his nation, ensured that he soon became revered. Like Shakespeare or Dante, his poetry resonates in a timeless manner that ensures it is always relevant and offers something new to the modern generation.

Now, in this beautifully illustrated book, broadcaster and historian Michael Wood follows in his footsteps to try to understand the places that inspired Du Fu to write some of the most famous and best-loved poetry the world has known. The themes he wrote about – friendship, family, human suffering – are universal and in our troubled times are just as relevant as they were almost 1,300 years ago.

nice until the ending

A nice portrayal of Du Fu and his life set against the Chinese landscape. The last few chapters though were rather absurd. He talks about the cultural revolution inhe most ridiculous caricatured way as if Mao were attempting to erase Chinese culture. Anyone with the slightest familiarity with Mao knows he is one of the most brilliant exponents of Chinese culture. As Confucius said, "Yan Hui is of no use to me he agrees with everything I say as if he is an idiot." To be a disciple of Confucius means to criticize him. Clearly there is a more complex process underway, but this author's juvenile understanding of history makes one cringe and would make Confucius sneer.

Storytelling

Liked: a nice story of what the life of Dufu may have been. The last hour contained interesting tidbits of his life.

Disliked: Mostly speculation of the daily life of Dufu, his worries, his meals, what he may have experienced, etc. All speculation. The author is not a historian. Not a literary scholar. Many superlatives, dramatic reading. I am not enriched by this narrative.