Floating and Sinking on the Sea of Officialdom is the second volume of the trilogy of modern Chinese historical fiction. It is a compelling historical novel with a moving love story.
In Volume I, Sailing Across the Red Storm, the main character and his family, friends and lovers bravely struggled through the ordeal of the Cultural Revolution in China. But in this volume, they try to change their politically suppressed and economically poor country into a democratic, dynamic and prosperous one, through economic and political reforms. The main character gives up his academic career and enters into the world of politics, launching reforms to improve society. He experiences both success and setbacks in these political circles. Emotionally, he and his lovers experience many complicated events, bringing both sorrow and happiness.
This novel gives readers a panoramic view of the great political, economic and social upheaval in China in the twenty years following the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976. Through rich character portrayal and meticulous description of historical events, the readers will see the true essence of this turning point in modern Chinese history and the changing attitude of Chinese people towards love, morality, wealth and their traditional ideology of Confucianism and Taoism.