 |
S. Publisher Buys Copyright of China's Best Novel
A publishing house in the United States has bought the copyrights of China's best novel this year.
The Houghton Mafflin Publishing Inc. has signed a contract with Chinese writer, Alai, to buy the copyrights of his novel "Red Poppy," which won the Fifth Maodun Literature Prize, China's highest literature prize, Wednesday, at the price of 150,000 U.S. dollars.
The Maodun Literature Prize is awarded to the best Chinese novels every three years. There are four novels that have won the prize this time.
"American publishers' interest in my novel is good news for Chinese literati," Alai, who is of Tibetan ethnic origin, said. "It will help the western world observe Chinese literature and writer in an all-round way and increase their understanding of real Chinese literature."
He added that the event will also enable western readers to have access to more literary works created by Chinese mainland writers.
"Red Poppy" has been widely acclaimed as one of the best novels written in China this century even before it won the Maodun prize.It tells about the rise and fall of a Tibetan landlord's family, and the relationship between the Tibetan region and other parts of China.
Alai, who is in his 40s, exhibits superb literary skills in the novel and he is the youngest writer to win the Maodun prize, which is usually given to older people.
The writer said that Chinese literature has recently caused greater attention worldwide and it is progressing rapidly, however, a few westerners lack basic knowledge about the advancement of Chinese literature and always eye Chinese literature as an unchanged pattern.
As the editor-in-chief of the Science Fiction World, China's biggest Sci-Fi magazine, Alai noted that in the modern time more Chinese writers are paying attention to how science revolution will affect man's future, instead of merely telling about personal tragedy.
"China's excellent literature touches a wide range of themes rather then one or two subjects," he said.
Alai's magazine also awarded the writer 80,000 yuan (10,000 U.S.dollars) for his "genius, diligence and responsibility." Alai said that the publishing house prize brought him with the same
happiness as the Maodun prize did.
The writer's new book will be a selection from his science thesis.
In This Section
|