Difficulty in Accessing Chinese Literature in English: An Editor Strives for Change
In the past, the academic publishing world was heavily focused on finding and promoting the classics. However, times have changed, and this is no longer the case. Riverhead Books, a renowned publishing house, is leading this shift with its new initiative to bring more translated Chinese literature to American readers.
At the helm of this project is Han Zhang, an editor at Riverhead Books. Zhang is publishing books that are not aiming to be sweeping classics but rather provide insights into contemporary Chinese life. This approach is a refreshing change, as people often struggle to think of a Chinese writer, according to Han Zhang himself.
One such book is "Women, Seated" by Zhang Yueran. This novel, published by Riverhead Books, takes place in Beijing and marks the beginning of a new effort to publish more translated Chinese language literature. "Women, Seated" asks important questions about class, labor, and feminism, offering a thrilling, funny, and relatable look into contemporary Chinese life.
The books published by Riverhead Books are not limited to representing rural, impoverished lives or being heavily influenced by Chinese culture. Instead, they aim to provide small looks into the lives of the billion people who speak Mandarin Chinese.
When people think of translated literature out of East Asia, they often think of Haruki Murakami or Han Kang. But Han Zhang hopes to expose American readers to a broader idea of Chinese literary fiction. Eric Abrahamson, a translator who spent nearly two decades living in China, notes that it often doesn't make sense for a Chinese publisher to sell overseas due to systemic reasons, including the general difficulty of doing business with a country with a censorship structure in place.
The next books by Han Zhang include a novel set during the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a coming-of-age novel from Taiwan, and a book from Malaysia. Unfortunately, the author of the next book to be published by Han Zhang remains unknown.
Zhang Yueran stated that the perception of Chinese literature among Western readers has been quite fixed, often seen as either heavily influenced by Chinese culture or focused on people living rural, impoverished lives. With this new initiative, Riverhead Books aims to challenge these perceptions and bring a more diverse and contemporary view of China to American readers.
In conclusion, Riverhead Books' new initiative, led by editor Han Zhang, is set to bring a fresh perspective on Chinese literature to American readers. By publishing books that provide insights into contemporary Chinese life, Riverhead Books is hoping to capture slices of the lives of the billion people who speak Mandarin Chinese with some really good stories.
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