The Northern Tomb (Isabelle Li, Puncher & Wattman)

Isabelle Li’s The Northern Tomb is a quietly powerful, deeply human novel that unfolds in 4 parts, blending personal stories with history in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Set in Shenyang during the Covid-19 pandemic, the novel follows Sister Fu, a widowed hospital cleaner who becomes the carer for Mr Zhao, a retired official facing poor health and profound grief. What begins as a practical arrangement slowly grows into a meaningful relationship, shaped by shared routines and an unexpected emotional bond. Much of the novel lives in memory. Sister Fu reflects on her difficult childhood, her escape from abuse, her life as a single mother and her hard-won independence. Meanwhile, Mr Zhao’s perspective is shaped by political history, family relationships and the loneliness that comes with ageing. Against these personal stories, Li subtly threads in China’s larger historical moments, from the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution, grounding the characters’ lives in a shared national past without ever overwhelming the story. Li’s prose is lyrical and precise, bringing Shenyang to life, from its streets and hospitals to the haunting presence of the Northern Tomb and the Great North Prison. At its heart, The Northern Tomb is about connection – how people carry their histories and survive grief, and how small acts of care can create meaning in the hardest moments. Li has written a story that feels both personal and universal, making The Northern Tomb a standout work of contemporary fiction. For readers of Yiyun Li and Yu Hua.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Emma Pei Yin is a British-born Hong Kong-Chinese writer, editor and author. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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