“I believe that the power of literature is stronger than the power of tyranny.” BelieveLiteratureI BelieveStrongerTyranny Author:Ma Jian
“I left Beijing in 1987, shortly before my books were banned there, but have returned continually.” BookLeftBannedBeijing Author:Ma Jian
“I wanted to analyse and understand how the Chinese people could have their lives so crushed by fear.” PeopleWantedChineseCrushed Author:Ma Jian
“Red Dust was about the late 1980s; it was a time of burgeoning hopes and opening up and people searching for new ways.” PeopleWayLateRedOpeningDustNew WaysOpening Up Author:Ma Jian
“The Beijing Olympics represent China's grand entrance onto the world stage and confirmation of its new superpower status.” WorldStageChinaOlympicsSuperpowerEntrancesConfirmationBeijing Author:Ma Jian
“Tyrannies not only want to control your mind and thoughts but your flesh as well.” WantMindWellsFleshTyrannyMind And Thoughts Author:Ma Jian
“China is completely lacking in self-awareness and as someone who has stepped outside that society, I have a responsibility to write about it as I see it.” WritingSelfResponsibilityAwarenessSelf AwarenessChinaLacking Author:Ma Jian
“In 1989, I was on Tiananmen Square with the students, living in their makeshift tents and joining their jubilant singing of the Internationale. In the two decades since, each time that I have gone back, visions from those days seem to return with increasing persistence.” TwoSeemsVisionGoneStudentsReturnSingingDecadesPersistenceSquaresJoiningTentsTiananmen Square Author:Ma Jian
“In February of this year I returned to China to research my next book. The authorities know about the novels of mine that have been published in the west, including the latest one, Beijing Coma, about a student shot in Tiananmen Square, but so far have allowed me to return.” KnowsYearsHas BeensBookNextNovelStudentsMinesReturnAuthorityResearchShotsWestIncludingChinaSquaresFebruaryComaBeijingTiananmen Square Author:Ma Jian
