A book by Jean Marie Gustave Le Clézio has just been published, subtitled “Aventure poétique et échanges littéraires”, it is about “Quinze causeries en Chine” (1), fifteen lectures, selected by his translator and friend Xu Jun; occasional texts but also essays of a very high quality.
Xu Jun translated “Desert” in 1983 and then nine years later “Le Procès Verbal”. They then met in Nanjing, during a visit of Le Clézio and … Lire la suite
An exceptional environment, she was born in 1946 in Shanghai, in a well-known family of bankers. After 1949, the family spent a few years in Hong Kong and then returned to Shanghai. She studied in English and Chinese and finished high school in 1964, too old to be sent “to the countryside”. A year in English at a teacher’s training school; she taught until 1979, when she published a short story and then in 1982 … Lire la suite
A good novel has just been published, translated with talent by Brigitte Duzan, assisted by Zhang Xiaoqiu, “Funérailles Molles” (1), immerses us in China’s land reform.
Fang Fang is a Chinese novelist known for her neo-realistic novels and her love for the city of Wuhan. Born in 1955, she grew up in Wuhan, finished high school in 1974 and then had to work for four years in a factory. At the end of the Cultural … Lire la suite
The previous article dealt with Li Ang’s career and the short stories available in English and French. We will now comment on her three translated novels (1,2,3) which had a great impact.
– “The Butcher’s Wife” (1)
After a stay in the United States and a degree in theatre studies at the University of Oregon, she met the great novelist Bai Xianyong in California and read in “Anecdotes of Old Shanghai”, the true story of … Lire la suite
Li Ang is a Taiwanese writer known abroad, but the translations into French and English only give a very limited idea of her fifty years of literary activity. This is especially the case for her short stories, which will be examined in connection with her career by reserving the three translated novels (3,4,5) for a future article.
– A childhood in Lugang and the first controversies:
Lugang was one of the most important cities in … Lire la suite
A few days ago, we mentioned “The Historical Anthology of Modern Taiwanese Literature”, four volumes under the direction of Isabelle Rabut, professor at INALCO and Angel Pino, professor at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne. The last two volumes, “De fard et de sang” and “Félix s’inquiète pour le pays”, will be presented by the publishers at Librairie Le Phénix in Paris, on Friday, February 1 at 6 p.m. and at the Taiwan Cultural Centre … Lire la suite
When we look at the collections of short stories and novels from Taiwanese literature, we are surprised to find that, after several publications in the 2000s, including two collections directed by Isabelle Rabut and Angel Pino (1), no new books until 2016. Three books are then published to which we will come back later: a special edition on Taiwan from the excellent journal Jentayu (3), a good collection “Taipei, history around the corner” published by … Lire la suite
Xi Xi, the pseudonym of Zhang Yan, is probably the most famous writer in Hong Kong. Important and very varied works, with a limited number of translations in the West. She has just won the Newman Prize, awarded every two years by an international jury around the University of Oklahoma; only one condition, to write in Chinese. She is in good company with Mo Yan, Han Shaogong and the Taiwanese poet Yang Mu; two … Lire la suite
Quand on recense les recueils de nouvelles et de courts romans de la littérature de Taiwan, on est étonné de constater que, après plusieurs publications au cours des années 2000 et notamment deux recueils dirigés par Isabelle Rabut et Angel Pino (1), aucun nouveau livre jusqu’en 2016. Trois ouvrages sont alors publiés sur lesquels on reviendra : un hors-série sur Taiwan de l’excellente revue Jentayu (3), un bon recueil « Taipei, histoire au coin de … Lire la suite
Xi Xi, the pseudonym of Zhang Yan, is probably the most famous writer in Hong Kong. Important and very varied works, with a limited number of translations in the West. She has just won the Newman Prize, awarded every two years by an international jury around the University of Oklahoma; only one condition, to write in Chinese. She is in good company with Mo Yan, Han Shaogong and the Taiwanese poet Yang Mu; two … Lire la suite
Xi Xi, le pseudonyme de Zhang Yan, est probablement l’écrivaine la plus reconnue à Hong Kong. Une œuvre importante et très variée, peu traduite en Occident. Elle vient d’obtenir le prix Newman , attribué tous les deux ans par un jury international autour de l’université d’Oklahoma ; une seule condition, écrire en chinois. Elle se retrouve en bonne compagnie avec Mo Yan , Han Shaogong et le poète taiwanais Yang Mu ; deux autres femmes, … Lire la suite
A novel “Echoes of Silence” (A) and its sequel “Days of Change” (B), are a good overview of Malaysia’s post-war colonial years until the end of the century. Chuah Guat Eng, who wrote this novel at the age of fifty, after a professional life in marketing and communication, chose a Chinese narrator Lim Ai Lian and then her favourite character, Hafiz, a Malay.
– An unconventional literary life:
Chuah Guat Eng … Lire la suite
A novel “Echoes of Silence” (A) and its sequel “Days of Change” (B), are a good overview of Malaysia’s post-war colonial years until the end of the century. Chuah Guat Eng, who wrote this novel at the age of fifty, after a professional life in marketing and communication, chose a Chinese narrator Lim Ai Lian and then her favourite character, Hafiz, a Malay.
– An unconventional literary life:
Chuah Guat Eng … Lire la suite