Liu Xiaobo (December 28, 1955 – July 13, 2017) was a Chinese literary critic, writer, and thinker. Born in Changchun, Jilin Province, he graduated from Beijing Normal University and later taught there. He was known for his literary criticism and social commentary, participating in the 1980s Chinese intellectual liberation movement. He criticized contemporary Chinese culture, politics, and society. In 2010, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize but was unable to attend the ceremony. He died of liver cancer in Beijing in 2017.
