Leading Chinese writers billed for the London Book Fair 2012
07 March 2012
The British Council, the UK’s international cultural relations organisation, is delighted to announce the 2012 Market Focus Cultural Programme – China: New Perspectives, New Concepts.
The 2012 Market Focus Cultural Programme will bring the best in contemporary Chinese writing and publishing to the UK, giving UK audiences a rare opportunity to meet and interact with a new generation of Chinese writers.
A series of high profile public and trade events will take place in and around The London Book Fair, encouraging the delegation to engage in debate and discussion with their UK counterparts in front of an international literary audience. The participating writers will represent the diversity of contemporary Chinese writing across a range of genres and from different generations. Themes including the effect the digital world has on contemporary literature, the surge in popularity of literary magazines in China, the evolution of contemporary Chinese poetry, the changing urban landscape and the role of life outside the city in contemporary fiction will be explored.
Participants in the cultural programme include the multi-award winning author Mo Yan, widely considered the great master of contemporary Chinese literature; Annie Baobei, number one bestseller and one of China’s first internet literary sensations; Xi Chuan, one of the most influential poets in contemporary China; Ah Lai, one of China’s few famous Tibetan writers whose new novel King Gesar will form part of the Canongate Myth Series; Liu Cixin, China’s most popular domestic science fiction author; Sheng Keyi, whose writing reflects on the lives of Chinese women today; Zheng Yuanjie, a multi-award winning children’s author who has sold over 20 million copies of his books and Tie Ning, President of the China Writer’s Association whose huge catalogue of prose has been widely translated.
The London Book Fair’s Market Focus ‘Author of the Day’ on Tuesday 12th April will be Bi Feiyu, the winner of the Man Asian Literary prize in 2010 for his novel, Three Sisters.
Bi Feiyu says: “China is the Guest of Honor in this year’s London Book Fair. As a Chinese writer, I am earnestly looking forward to its coming. Believe it or not, I can’t wait for it any longer. Wherever you come from, we all have common literature memory in our heart. And it is gorgeous. Its value is not limited to finding an old house; its value lies in that a consensus in life can be reached via the literature consensus. The only thing I need to emphasize is such a consensus is achieved in a life-loving context of freedom, friendship, help and sharing. With so many writers, especially Chinese writers gathering in London, it is bound to be a grand event. This is a worldwide spiritual dialogue.”
Together, these and other writers will address a range of topics at The London Book Fair including:
- Writing for a Digital World
- Contemporary China on the Page
- Ancient Myths in Contemporary Fiction
- From Page to Screen
- Modern Chinese Masters
- A Female Perspective
- The Art of Publishing Literary Magazines
- Urban Landscapes
- Rural China
Additional seminars and events will also be taking place at prestigious venues throughout London and at selected venues and festivals across the UK throughout the year. This celebration of Chinese authors gives readers a unique opportunity to learn not only about Chinese literature but also to experience China today through the eyes and minds of fresh and exciting new and talented writers.
In the spirit of mutual cultural exchange, some of the UK’s most acclaimed writers including Jeanette Winterson, Andrew Miller, Susie Orbach, Ross Raisin, Catherine O’Flynn have visited China in the last few years, where they have taken part in literary events, Festivals and Book Fairs, exchanges with fellow Chinese writers and thinkers, and, most importantly, have engaged with a huge number of Chinese readers, students and literary enthusiasts.
Susie Nicklin, Director Literature, British Council says: "Connecting authors with new audiences through innovative, high-quality events and collaborations is at the heart of the British Council’s literature work. It is has been a privilege working with our colleagues and partners in the UK and China and we look forward to showcasing the best contemporary Chinese writing as well as giving UK audiences the opportunity to experience the amazing breadth and diversity of Chinese literature today. This is also part of our ongoing work to create a cultural dialogue between our two countries, with further visits by Chinese authors to Britain taking place throughout the year as well as visits by British authors to China."
The British Council, now in its fifth year as strategic partner of The London Book Fair, has worked in wide consultation with its official partners, industry professionals, experts in the field and on research based over a number of years in the formation of the 2012 Market Focus Cultural Programme. The delegation will be hosted in the UK in collaboration with the Chinese organising committee.
As the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, we work in over 100 countries worldwide to build opportunity and trust for the UK through the exchange and sharing of knowledge and ideas between people. Recent projects include a Writers’ Salon in Moscow; a global celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Dickens including a seminar in Berlin; the Erbil Literature Festival, the first international literature festival ever to be held in Iraq; a writers’ tour of Turkey; and a global partnership with Hay Festivals that has seen UK writers travel to festivals in Beirut, Cartagena, Dhaka, Kerala, Nairobi, Segovia and Zacatecas amongst others. The British Council has operated offices in China since 1943 and in 2012 more than ever, is looking forward to a multitude of Sino-British exchanges. As the British and Chinese governments are developing the People to People Dialogue, the British Council will launch UK Now, a major arts season in China, which will demonstrate yet again how the British Council continues to play a crucial role in facilitating and encouraging the strengthening of ties between the UK and China through cultural exchange.
Media Enquiries:
For further information about the British Council China Market Focus Cultural Programme, please contact: Fiona McMorrough / Jessica Axe, FMCM Associates on 020 7405 7422 email: fionam@fmcm.co.uk / jessica@fmcm.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Market Focus
The decision to make China The London Book Fair Market Focus for 2012 was taken in 2008 to highlight the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London.
The London Book Fair Market Focus initiative is currently in its ninth year and has done much to open doors, creating both commercial and cultural partnerships around the world since it was first introduced by The London Book Fair in 2004. The objective of the Market Focus is to put the spotlight on publishing trade links with the country or region that is showcased, highlighting its publishing industry, and the opportunities for conducting business with the rest of the world. The London Book Fair 2012 takes place 16-18 April, Earls Court London. Previous Market Focus countries and regions include the Arab World, India, South Africa and Russia. Turkey will be the Market Focus country in 2013.
The British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide. We work in over 100 countries in the arts, education and English and in 2010/11 we engaged face to face with 30 million people and reached 578 million. We have 6,800 staff worldwide. Our total turnover in 2010/11 was £693 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was £190 million. The remainder was generated through trading activities such as English language teaching. For every £1 of taxpayer money invested we earn £2.65 in additional income. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org
China Market Focus Cultural Programme Author Delegation
Ah Lai, Ah Yi, Annie Baobei, Bi Feiyu, Chi Zijian, Feng Tang, Han Dong, Li Er, Xiaolu Guo, Li Jingze, Liu Cixin, Liu Zhenyun, Mo Yan, Sheng Keyi, Tie Ning, Tsering Norbu, Xi Chuan, Xu Zechen, Yan Geling, Yang Hongying, Zheng Yuanjie
Selected Partners of the China Market Focus Cultural Programme
Asia House, British Library, SOAS, Edinburgh, London and Manchester Confucius Institute, Southbank Centre, Foyles, LRB Bookshop, Comma Press, Newcastle University, Stratford Literary Festival, Pan Asian Women’s Association
GAPP
The General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) is the administrative agency responsible for promoting and regulating press and publishing industries in China.
CNPIEC
China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation is the largest publication importer and exporter in China. CNPIEC is the event organizer and coordinator for China Market Focus cultural programme. CNPIEC is also the organizer of Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), one of the most influential international book fairs in the world. BIBF now in its 19th year, the book fair will take place in the end of August with over 53,000 square meters of exhibition space and over 2000 exhibitors are expected to attend. For more details, please visit: http://www.cnpeak.com/
CUPP
China Universal Press & Publication Co., Ltd.(CUPP) is the professional company in China, which provides fair services for Chinese publishers to participate in international book Fairs. Each year, CUPP takes part in over ten important book events around the world, including Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, Book Expo America , Bologna Children's Book Fair, Tokyo Book Fair, Cairo Book Fair, Singapore Book Fair,etc. In addition, CUPP is one of the organisers of Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), and is also the main coordinator for China Honour Country Programmes.
The London Book Fair
The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Taking place every spring in the world’s premier publishing and cultural capital, it is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. The London Book Fair brings you direct access to customers, content and emerging markets. The 41st edition of The London Book Fair will take place from 16-18 April 2012. For more details, please visit: www.londonbookfair.co.uk
Further information on The London Book Fair’s Education and Events Programme can be found at www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/Education--Events/
The Publishers Association
The Publishers Association is the leading trade organisation serving book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK. Membership is comprised of 117 companies from across the trade, academic and education sectors. Its core service is representation and lobbying, around copyright, rights and other matters relevant to members, who represent roughly 80% of the industry by turnover. www.publishers.org.uk
