Ma Jian Interviewed by Flora Drew

The ‘Chinese Solzhenitsyn’ Ma Jian talks about his new novel China Dream, a poetic fable about tyranny, guilt and the erasure of history.

The novel charts the psychological disintegration of a Chinese provincial leader haunted by his violent past in seven dream-like episodes. It is a biting satire of totalitarian rule and of a nation blinded by materialism and governed by violence and lies.

Ma Jian’s first novel, Stick Out Your Tongue, led to the banning of his books in China. His previous novel, The Dark Road, led to a ban on him returning to China. He lives in exile in London and his books have been translated into 20 languages. Here he talks to his translator and partner Flora Drew.

The first China Lecture in 2018 was given by the Man Asian Literary Prize Winner Su Tong. His novella, Wives and Concubines, was filmed as the acclaimed Raise the Red Lantern.