The Confucius Institute for Scotland is hosting an exclusive pre-launch event hosted by Jenny Niven in discussion with the author Dong Xi as they discuss his upcoming novel Fate Rewritten. We are delighted to host the event in collaboration with Sinoist Books, a UK-based independent press that publishes only the best in translated Chinese literature and contemporary fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

For generations, Wang Changchi’s family have dreamed of escaping their poverty-stricken village. When a twist of fate takes his chance away, he joins the hordes of migrant workers risking their lives for a shot at city life. Still hoping for a reversal of fortune, will he risk it all for one more chance to bring success to his family line?

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dong Xi is the pen name of Tian Dailin. Born in Guangxi Province, Chinese critics include him among the “New Generation” of writers. Notable works include the novels Record of Regret and Fate Rewritten, as well as the novella Life without Language, which won the Lu Xun Literary Award. He is Writer in Residence at the Guangxi University for Nationalities.

Jenny Niven joined the Book Festival in September 2023. Prior to this, she was founder and Director of the award-winning Push The Boat Out, a festival of poetry, spoken word and language; Executive Producer of Dandelion, an epic programme of sowing, growing and sharing across Scotland, and chair of Literature Alliance Scotland, the national membership organisation for books and publishing. She was named in The List’s ‘Hot 100’ people influencing Scotland’s art’s and cultural landscape in 2022. In previous roles, she has led the literature and publishing team as Head of Literature at Creative Scotland, executive produced the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, led on the creation of the Muriel Spark 100 centenary celebrations, was Head of Programme/Associate Director at the Wheeler Centre for Books Writing & Ideas, Melbourne, and co-founded Beijing’s first book festival.

Event details:

Date: Wed 31st Jul 2024

Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Location: Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HP

Language: Chinese with English Consecutive interpretation

The event is free, but booking is required. To read the speakers' biography and to book, visit their website HERE