Royal Asiatic Society Beijing – The Inside Story of Becoming Inspector Chen – 30/6/21

Posted: June 25th, 2021 | No Comments »

The Inside Story of “Becoming Inspector Chen”

WHAT: “The Inside Story of ‘Becoming Inspector Chen'”, an RASBJ online conversation with author Qiu Xiaolong about his latest crime thriller, moderated by Rianka Mohan.
WHEN: June 30, 2021 Wednesday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Beijing Standard Time

Award-winning writer Qiu Xiaolong says his latest book is his personal favorite because of its autobiographical and experimental elements. In this RASBJ conversation, Qiu reveals to us the story behind “Becoming Inspector Chen”, the latest in his series about Shanghai police inspector – and poet — Chen Cao. Despite setbacks at work, Inspector Chen pursues a mysterious new case involving a controversial poem posted on China’s most popular social media platform. His own past may hold tantalizing clues. The narrative about the inspector’s investigation has something evocative for nearly every kind of Sinologist — from the legacy of the Cultural Revolution to meticulously textured street life, from ancient poetry to the murder of a rich foodie after an extravagant but puzzling meal. The talk will be moderated by freelance writer Rianka Mohan.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT ON ZOOM:
This event is free and exclusively for members and associates of RASBJ, and its RAS partners. If you know someone who wants to join the RASBJ, please ask them to sign up at least 48 hours before the event via our website at: https://rasbj.org/membership/

MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Qiu Xiaolong won the 2001 Anthony Award for Best First Novel for Death of a Red Heroine, which kicked off his best-selling Inspector Chen series of detective novels set in China. He has since written ten additional novels in the series; his books have sold millions of copies, and have been translated into more than twenty languages. And all his Inspector Chen novels have been made into BBC radio dramatizations. He has also published collections of short stories, poetry, and poetry translations. Born in Shanghai, China, Qiu Xiaolong published poetry, translation and criticism in Chinese before he went to the United States as a Ford Foundation Fellow and obtained his PhD at Washington University in St. Louis. He currently lives in St. Louis with his wife and daughter.

MORE ABOUT THE MODERATOR: Rianka Mohan has moderated panels at the EU-China Literature Festival, the Neilson Hays Festival, and other literary events. She spent 15 years in New York working as an investment banker for J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse. She is currently working on a screenplay.

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