Norwegian author Jon Fosse has been announced as the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature recipient. Interestingly, however, he was second on the betting odds list for the prize, while topping the list was the Chinese female writer Can Xue.
One might wonder how Can Xue, a figure of controversy and neglect in her homeland, became a favorite for such a prestigious global recognition. The following dives into the life and work of an author whose complexity has sparked more significant acclaim abroad than in her own country.
Who is Can Xue?
Can Xue, born Deng Xiaohua in 1953 in Changsha, inherited the literary mantle from her father, Deng Junhong, the president and chief editor of the then New Hunan Newspaper (now known as the Hunan Daily).
Her name, translated as “remnant snow,” was a pen name chosen to signify both the pristine snow on high mountains and the tension of snow trampled upon despite the onset of spring. She is a paradox in person and writing: appearing simple and unsophisticated, yet being one of China’s most avant-garde authors.
Clarifying the paradox of Can Xue
Despite a writing style often deemed bizarre and complex, Can Xue’s works have been translated into many languages, drawing the attention of scholars from around the globe. The author’s international appeal is such that foreign readership and appreciation of her work surpass that in China. Susan Sontag, the celebrated American writer, went so far as to declare Can Xue as the best writer from China.
In the global landscape, Can Xue holds three distinctions among contemporary Chinese authors: the most translated works, the most frequent inclusion in foreign academic curricula, and a wealth of dedicated research institutions studying her literature.
The enigma behind the writer
During the cultural upheaval of China’s 1980s, Can Xue stood out with her distinctive style as a vanguard among the era’s new-wave novelists. However, her contributions were often met with either controversy or indifference. Not until the Nobel Literature Prize selection was revealed in 2019 did her work decisively enter the spotlight.
Can Xue’s early ordeal, with her parents branded as rightists and consequently separated from her, inflicted on her a dramatic and turbulent childhood. Such harrowing experiences may offer insight into the fantastical and grotesque elements that permeate her literary world.
Influences from her grandmother, who practiced mystic rituals of their native Xiangxi culture, undoubtedly colored her narrative style, forging a setting where the line between reality and phantasmal storytelling blurs.
Can Xue’s worldwide impact and recent works
Can Xue has become the most internationally published Chinese female author. Her novels have made their way into the literary course materials of prestigious universities such as Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, and even in Japan’s Tokyo Central University.
Her long novel The Last Lover, titled in English, won the Best Translated Novel award in the United States. Notable works such as The Cabin Above the Village, Ancient and Decrepit Clouds, The Breakout Performance, and Clay Street have resonated with audiences far and wide, with her latest publication being The Barefoot Doctor.
In summary
Through her mix of personal history and literary inventiveness, Can Xue has transcended the domestic arenas of literary acceptance, appealing to an international array that understands and celebrates the depth of her creations.
This fascinating journey into the life and works of Can Xue serves as a reminder that literature often transcends borders, embedding itself in global consciousness, regardless of its origins.
