Clara Blum, born in Austria, became a citizen of the Soviet Union at the age of 31. After the end of World War II, she moved to China. Her novel “The Shepherd and the Weaver” is written in the style of autofiction.
The main characters—The Shepherd and The Weaver—come from an ancient Chinese legend. New-Lang and Zhe-Ny share deep feelings for each other, but they are separated by the Milky Way. Only once a year they can meet.
In Moscow, Hanna meets a Chinese director, and feelings arise between them. But their happiness doesn’t last long: New-Lang is sent back to China to take part in the revolution. Hanna decides to follow him despite war, bureaucracy, and poverty—because she considers herself his Zhe-Ny. In China, she faces new trials and difficulties. Despite rumors of New-Lang’s death, Zhe-Ny believes in their upcoming meeting.