“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
“It is vitally important for me, both personally and for my writing, to be able to return to China freely, so being barred entry has caused me deep concern and distress.” WritingImportantAbleReturnConcernChinaDistressEntry Author:Ma Jian
