The Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy warmly invites Mike Gayle, one of the UK’s top ranking and best-selling authors, to visit China this September to present to his Chinese readers a series of exciting literary activities. British literature is currently in a particularly vibrant period with many energetic and innovative works filling and enriching the modern British literary scene. As a representative of contemporary British literature writers, Mike Gayle, this time will offer 4 literary activities in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. This significant literary event, organized by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, follows on from a series of literature projects such as the “Writers’ Train”,“100 Words Project”, “China-UK Publishing Forum”, “China-UK Forum on Marketing Literature in Translation” and “Chinese Publishers UK Study Tour on Marketing Literature in Translation”.

Mike Gayle http://www.mikegayle.co.uk/ He is a novelist, relationship columnist, and a contributor to many famous magazines such as FHM, Sunday Times Style and Cosmopolitan. From a male point of view, his works focus on the sentiments of urban men and women, and portray in detail the responsibilities loaded on men by society, the expectations of women from men and the sense of insecurity and fear that coincide, bringing his readers a look at the secret inner world of men and a fresh and new understanding. He has carved a whole new literary niche out of the male confessional novel, which is a publishing phenomenon. His words are simple, humorous and original. His first novel, My Legendary Girlfriend, made him a best-selling writer throughout the world. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and will be adapted into a film. At present, seven Mike Gayle novels have been published in China: His ‘n’ Hers, Brand New Friend, My Legendary Girlfriend, Mr Commitment, Dinner for Two, Wish You Were Here and Turning Thirty.

Lecture 1:

Love, Life and Literature
- Dialogue with Mike Gayle, the Best-selling UK Writer and Pioneer of the “Male Confessional Novel”
Speakers: [UK] Mike Gayle, [China] Wu Di
Host: [China] Yan Qinghua
Time: 10:00-11:30, Saturday 5 September 2009
Venue: Board Room, 2/F, Radisson SAS Hotel Beijing
Address: 6A East Beisanhuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Organisers: Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, Beijing International Book Fair
Admission by invitation only

Summary: Mike Gayle, the best-selling UK relationships novelist, is invited to a dialogue with Wu Di, a renowned Chinese psychological consultant and columnist. Proceeding from the feelings of urban men and women, the dialogue will provide a vivid insight into modern UK literature to personalities from the publication and literature circles as well as the general public in China. In addition, the discussion on “love”, an enduring topic for all human beings, will reflect the psychological sentiments of contemporary urban men and women, and give an in-depth interpretation of modern sentimental literature in both the UK and China.

Brief Introduction to the Guests:

Wu Di:
As a State Level II Psychological Counsellor focusing on gender relationships and white-collar issues, she acted as the Chief Editor of ELLE in 2001 and has worked for many years in foreign enterprises. Her column “Ask WUDI” has appeared in ELLE and Consumer MeiMei and won the favour of urban men and women. Her book entitled Q&A-Ask WUDI was published in August 2002. She created Consumer MeiMei in 2003 and is acting publisher of the magazine. Her column on sentimental issues appears in Marie Claire and the Xinmin Evening News, and she has contributed to such famous Chinese media as Cosmopolitan, South Weekend, New Weekly, Sanlian Life Weekly and Book Town.

Yan Qinghua:
Introducer of Mike Gayle’s works in Simplified Chinese. Deputy General Manager and Chief Editor of Shanghai Wanyu Culture & Arts Co., Ltd.

Lecture 2:

Love, Life and Literature: A Brief History of Mike Gayle
Speaker: [UK] Mike Gayle  
Time: 15:00-17:00, Sunday 6 September 2009
Venue: Cafe Copy
Address: East Side of Grand Floor, Today Art Museum, Building 4, No. 32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Organisers：Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, One Way Street Library

Summary: Mike Gayle, a top ranking bestselling author in the UK, will talk about his writing career from his own personal perspective; freely talk with the readers about the sentiments of men and women in the modern world and discuss the differences in love and sentiment and related issues when people are of different cultural backgrounds, and also the role played by literature in the communication and dialogue between different cultures.

Time: 18:30-20:30, Monday 7 September 2009
Venue: Haiguangsi Bookcity
Address: No. 44. 46, Xin Du Mansion, Weijin Lu, Nankai District, Tianjin
Organisers: Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, Haiguangsi Bookcity


Time: 19:00-21:00, Wednesday 9 September 2009
Venue: Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate-General
Address: 1 Floor Cross Tower, 318 Fuzhoulu, Shanghai
Organisers: Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate-General, Shanghai Wanyu Culture & Art Co., Ltd.