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Ma Jian
Flora-drew
Flora Drew

China Lecture: China Dream

Ma Jian Interviewed by Flora Drew

Friday, 5 April 2019

6:00pm

1 hour

Weston Lecture Theatre

£7 - £12.50

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.

Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 Goldmoney Properties Felicity Bryan Associates Voltaire Foundation Confucius Institute Critchleys Accountants to the festival Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Oxford Business College Where learning meets opportunity: education partners of the festival Pasture to Plate Compassion in World Farming Symington Wines of the Douro Valley Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller elBullifoundation Cervantes Institute, London The Cervantes Institute, London Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Oxford Mathematics Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Cultural Relations Platform Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme European Union Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK University of Oxford The Telegraph Festival media partner Other donors Mary and Cecil Quillen Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture David Isaac Ian and Carol Sellars Martin and Elise Becket Smith Tim and Marion Stevenson Miles Young Jim Mellon Brasenose College Brasenose College founded in 1512 Pusey House Founded 1884 Reuben College Reuben College founded in 2019 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 New College New College founded 1379 Yale University Press London The Oxford Times Windrush Group Schoolreaders The Litmus Partnership CAV Oxford Oxford University Images Oxford University Images Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies The Sheldonian Theatre University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office Paul Bloomfield Ltd Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design MACROVegan Human Ecology Project New Dutch Writing Conference Oxford BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner OX magazine Ox in a Box
 

The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 Goldmoney Properties Felicity Bryan Associates Voltaire Foundation Confucius Institute Critchleys Accountants to the festival Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Oxford Business College Where learning meets opportunity: education partners of the festival Pasture to Plate Compassion in World Farming Symington Wines of the Douro Valley Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller elBullifoundation Cervantes Institute, London The Cervantes Institute, London Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Oxford Mathematics Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Cultural Relations Platform Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme European Union Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK University of Oxford The Telegraph Festival media partner Other donors Mary and Cecil Quillen Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture David Isaac Ian and Carol Sellars Martin and Elise Becket Smith Tim and Marion Stevenson Miles Young Jim Mellon Brasenose College Brasenose College founded in 1512 Pusey House Founded 1884 Reuben College Reuben College founded in 2019 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 New College New College founded 1379 Yale University Press London The Oxford Times Windrush Group Schoolreaders The Litmus Partnership CAV Oxford Oxford University Images Oxford University Images Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies The Sheldonian Theatre University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office Paul Bloomfield Ltd Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design MACROVegan Human Ecology Project New Dutch Writing Conference Oxford BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner OX magazine Ox in a Box