The Banished Immortal

A Life of Li Bai (Li Po)

By: Ha Jin

Narrated by: David Shih

From the National Book Award-winning author of Waiting: a narratively driven, deeply human biography of the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai—also known as Li Po

In his own time (701–762), Li Bai's poems—shaped by Daoist thought and characterized by their passion, romance, and lust for life—were never given their proper due by the official literary gatekeepers. Nonetheless, his lines rang out on the lips of court entertainers, tavern singers, soldiers, and writers throughout the Tang dynasty, and his deep desire for a higher, more perfect world gave rise to his nickname, the Banished Immortal. Today, Bai's verses are still taught to China's schoolchildren and recited at parties and toasts; they remain an inextricable part of the Chinese language.

With the instincts of a master novelist, Ha Jin draws on a wide range of historical and literary sources to weave the great poet's life story. He follows Bai from his origins on the western frontier to his ramblings travels as a young man, which were filled with filled with striving but also with merry abandon, as he raised cups of wine with friends and fellow poets. Ha Jin also takes us through the poet's later years—in which he became swept up in a military rebellion that altered the course of China's history—and the mysterious circumstances of his death, which are surrounded by legend.

The Banished Immortal is an extraordinary portrait of a poet who both transcended his time and was shaped by it, and whose ability to live, love, and mourn without reservation produced some of the most enduring verses.

Li Bai The Great soars beyond the mundane modern era

The life of Li Bai is epic, fascinating, and tragic. I found myself engrossed in his story only to be ripped out of the moment by random references to modern poetry and the current regime leader in China. Aside from these unnecessary and jarring departures, the book offers great insight into the Renaissance Dynasty of China - the Great Tang, and of one of the most legendary poets in history.

Deep Dive Biography into Li Bai

Very well done. A biography of the life and times of Li Bai. With a cursory knowledge of Li Bai's poetry through translations into English, I had a romantic notion of this man. This biography gives an excellent account of the strenghts and weaknesses of the man. Also provides some insight into the Tang Dynasty which was also interesting. Recommended.

Wonderful story!

The story is very well written and depicts the life of the great poet Li Bai in a very intimate manner while at the same time giving the listener a sense of a wider historical and cultural backdrop. Very inspiring and made even more interested in Chinese poetry and just poetry in general. Thank you for the great work!

Standard Biography

This is a standard biography of a great historical figure in Chinese literature.

David Shih's narration is spot on.

Great Biography!

A deep dive into the life of a great poet, with a detailed description of the historic events and culture surrounding him, which makes for a well rounded understanding of Li-Bai.