Ma Ling was one of China’s most popular bloggers. Then she became a target in President Xi Jinping’s campaign to purge popular voices that the Communist Party finds threatening.
Tag: Writing and Writers
Russia Dispatch: Turgenev Dissed Russia but Is Still Lionized as Literary Star by Touchy Kremlin
The Russian government celebrates the writer Ivan Turgenev even though it scorns many of his negative views of his homeland and his embrace of Western, liberal values.
The Guardians of the French Language Are Deadlocked, Just Like Their Country
The “Immortals” of the Académie Française have failed to fill four seats, a paralysis that reflects France’s own struggle to adapt to the 21st century.
George Orwell Gets an Apology for a Rejection Letter (but Not for His Marmalade Recipe)
A British cultural exchange body said it had been wrong to turn down the writer’s effort 73 years ago but stood by the criticism of his marmalade: “Bad recipe!”
Detainee Wrote a Book via WhatsApp. It Won a Top Literary Prize in Australia.
Behrouz Boochani, an asylum seeker, could not attend the event at which he was awarded $125,000 for his book on his experiences as a detainee.
Overlooked No More: Forough Farrokhzad, Iranian Poet Who Broke Barriers of Sex and Society
An author unafraid to defy midcentury attitudes about her gender. “What is important is humanity,” she said, “not being a man or a woman.”
30 Writers Sign Letter Calling for European ‘Resistance’ to Populism
Fearing a victory for the far right in May elections for the European Parliament, intellectuals are urging a countermovement to dispel ‘a smoke screen for neo-fascism.’
Diana Athill Dies at 101; Wrote Cleareyed Memoirs of Love and Sex
The English author, whose critically lauded autobiographies chronicled her romantic and sexual liaisons, attained literary celebrity in her 90s.
Chinese-Australian Writer Yang Hengjun Detained in China
A former Chinese official with Australian citizenship, Mr. Yang flew from New York to Guangzhou despite friends’ warnings that it was too dangerous.
Amos Oz, Israeli Author and Peace Advocate, Dies at 79
One of Israel’s most prolific writers, he published numerous works of both fiction and nonfiction, and his writing was translated into more than 35 languages.