The images convey these aspects of an inexplicable world the blackandwhite inner world that underlies the complexity of human existence. The novel is loosely based on the authors own journey into rural china, which was inspired by a false diagnosis of lung cancer. He is also a noted translator particularly of samuel beckett and eugene ionesco, screenwriter, stage director, and. I n may this year, when news of the sichuan earthquake reached the nobel laureate gao xingjian at his home in paris, he remembered living through a similar disaster in. The swedish sinologist goran malmqvist is seen as integral to gao xingjians selection for last years nobel prize in literature. Gao xingjian is an artistic innovator, in both the visual arts and literature. The case for literature by gao xingjian popmatters. Gao xingjian is the first, and only, chinese author to win the nobel prize for literature, which he won in 2000. The author of soul mountain,and chinas only nobel laureate in literature, offers provocative insights into the meaning and enduring importance of literary expression when gao xingjian was crowned nobel laureate in 2000, it was the first time in the hundredyear history of the nobel prize that this honor had been awarded to an author for a body of work written in chinese. The novel is a part autobiographical, part fictional account of a mans journey to find the fabled mountain lingshan. Gao xingjian was almost unknown in this country when he won this years nobel prize. The book details his travels from sichuan province to the coast, and life among. Fonga great intro collection to the chinese expat, nobel prize winning playwright.
Unless gao s internationally acclaimed plays are a lot better than his fiction, its hard to understand why this writer was awarded a nobel prize. Gao xingjian, born january 4, 1940 in ganzhou jiangxi province in eastern china, is today a french citizen. Save and read this checklist of books written by nobel prize for literature winners. His plays and translations set the trend for experimental drama in china, and he wrote soul mountain harpercollins based on a journey he made through the remote mountains and ancient forests. Gao xingjian, chinese emigre novelist, playwright, and critic who in 2000 was awarded the nobel prize for literature for an oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity. Nobel laureate gao xingjian is amongst the most challenging writers of the present era. His poems offer an array of snapshots over various themes where politics, dreams, and metaphysical concerns are mixed. A champion of a return to painting as a pure, intuitive form. Theater at hong kong festival, a nobel laureate returns. Description this book is in the cambria world sinophone series general editor.
But six weeks later, a second examination revealed there was no cancerhe had won a second reprieve from death. Born in china in 1940, he was introduced to the arts as a boy by his mother who was an actress. He came of a cultured family and, as a child, was encouraged to paint, write and play violin. Born in 1940 in jiangxi province, gao xingjian earned a degree in french literature in beijing and settled in paris in 1987.
Lin zhaohuas production of gao xingjians of mountains and seas is the first time in more than two decades that a mainland chinese cast. Gao xingjian has 58 books on goodreads with 19843 ratings. He was also renowned as a stage director and as an artist. In light of this miraculous reprieve and rumors of his impending arrest, gao xingjian left beijing and spent five months wandering the forests of. In the writing of gao xingjian literature is born anew from the struggle of the individual to survive the history of the masses. Gao xingjian discussed his novel soul mountain, published by harpercollins, for which he was the first recipient to receive the nobel prize in literature for writing in chinese. Invite back gao xingjian, 2000 nobel laureate in literature and still the only chinese writer to win the prize. A beautiful surprise in this latest book, edited by anne. Written between 1990 and 2002, these bold and extraordinary essays include gao s nobel lecture. Soul mountain my views gao xinjian is the only novelist from china who has the honor of winning the nobel prize for literature for his memorable novel soul mountain which has set a new trail for the chinese novel. Gao xingjian was awarded the 2000 nobel prize for literature for an. This book is both indispensable and inspiring reading for intellectuals and informed readers who regard themselves as citizens. Gao xingjian was the surprise winner of the 2000 nobel prize, being unknown to the majority of chinese he left china and became a french citizen and to all but specialists in chinese literature. The recipient of the 2000 nobel prize in literature, he is also a noted translator particularly of samuel beckett and eugene ionesco, screenwriter, stage director, and a celebrated painter.
His journey through southern chinas ancient mountains and forests, inspired this immensely wise and beautiful novel. Winner of the nobel prize in literature in 2000, novelist gao xingjian is also an artist whose paintings are exhibited worldwide. An emigre to france since 1987, gao was granted french citizenship in 1997. Gao xingjian on one level, the novel is a travelogue of this journey, an evocative description of rural villages and remote country towns that few foreigners ever visit. For gao xingjian, the first chinese writer to be honored with the nobel prize in 2000, literature is supremely the realm of the individual. In 1983, chinese playwright, critic, fiction writer, and painter gao xingjian was diagnosed with lung cancer and faced imminent death. His plays, novels and short fiction have undeniably won a victory for chinese literature.
It is an autobiographical social commentary that has significant place for the supernatural in its plot. This most prestigious prize is awarded to an author, from a country, who has in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction. One mans bible belongs to that sad class of books sold on the strength of their authors having won a prize. Gao is little known in his native china, which he fled in 1987 and where his works are banned, and only a tiny sampling. Gao xingjian born january 4, 1940 is a chinese emigre novelist, playwright, and critic who in. Gao xingjians aesthetics and creation has importance and relevance to the general reader with an interest in literature and art as a creative human pursuit that is not demarcated by national or cultural boundaries. Born in 1940 in jiangxi province in eastern china, he has lived in france since 1987. Gao xingjian painter of the soul by sherry buchanan daniel. A beautiful surprise in this latest book, edited by. This book is in the cambria world sinophone series. Soul mountain a nobel prize winning novel by gao xinjian. Firstly though is a detailed look at soul mountain by chinas first winner of the nobel prize for literature, gao xingjian. May 31, 2007 heres a third suggestion for chinas commissars of cutrate, cutthroat capitalism. The elusive lingshan soul mountain becomes the object of his quest.
Gao xingjian delivered his nobel lecture in borssalen at the swedish academy. Discover the latest buzzworthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor. Gao xingjian, born in 1940 in china, is known as an experimental writer whose literary work was awarded the 2000 nobel prize in literature for an oeuvre of. The other shore by gao xingjian, translated by gilbet c. Born in china in 1940, the multitalented gao also excelled equally as a critic and playwright, but when his avantgarde plays were banned, he left china in 1987 and settled in france, where he lives today. Discussing his novel soul mountain and the poems as free as a bird and roaming spirit and metaphysical thinking, the chapter shows how gao xingjians selfexile and his persistent pursuit of the aesthetic. Interview a short excerpt from xingjian s acceptance speech on receiving the 2000 noble prize for literature. When gao xingjian was crowned nobel laureate in 2000, it was the first time in. The nobel prize in literature for 2000 goes to the chinese writer gao xingjianfor an.
Nov 29, 2002 one mans bible by gao xingjian, translated by mabel lee 450pp, flamingo. Discover book depositorys huge selection of xingjian gao books online. He is also a noted translator particularly of samuel beckett and eugene ionesco, screenwriter, stage director, and a celebrated painter. Gao xingjian, fodd 4 januari 1940 i ganzhou, jiangxi, ar en kinesisk forfattare, dramatiker och malare som sedan 1988 ar bosatt i frankrike och sedan 1997 ar fransk medborgare. Gao believes that the world cannot be explained and that artistic creation offers the only way to escape into meaning. A true artist resists all political or ideological constraints and strives to free himself from what gao labels isms. The book is a timely addition to the growing critical works and translations in gao xingjian studies. As one of gao xingjian s characters remarks, if a fiction writer could know the true stories of the people he passes on the street, he would be amazed. Mabel lee translator id like to say it is my prefer book to read first, and it is a good item because of its good price. He has probed the dynamics of chinese and european literature and developed unique strategies for the writing of seventeen plays, two novels, a collection of short stories and a collection of poems.
Soul mountain by gao xingjian 2000 winner the tin drum by. Oct 23, 2001 in 1983, chinese playwright, critic, fiction writer, and painter gao xingjian was diagnosed with lung cancer and faced imminent death. Facing time on a prison farm for defying his countrys laws of cultural conformity, nobel prizewinning artistwriter gao xingjian embarked on an epic search for his roots and for freedom. Gao xingjian wins the nobel prize for literature the new.
The latest work by gao xingjian, the art of a free man has just been published in france 1, it brings together, translated by noel dutrait, speeches made in several countries, interviews or short essays. The following is an excerpt from his acceptance speech. Gao xingjian whose name is pronounced gow shingjen is the first chinese recipient of the nobel prize in literature. In 1983 chinese playwright, critic, fiction writer, and painter gao xingjian pronounced gow shingjen was diagnosed with lung cancer and faced imminent death. Gao xingjian born january 4, 1940 is a chinese emigre novelist, playwright, and critic who in 2000 was awarded the nobel prize for literature for an oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity. In may this year, when news of the sichuan earthquake reached the nobel laureate gao xingjian at his home in paris, he remembered living. This chapter looks at how gao xingjian, the 2000 nobel prize laureate in literature, has brought zhuangzis spirit of absolute liberation and freedom to its highest level. It also announces gao to english language readers as a major voice in literary aesthetics and politics, a chinese nobel prize winner who remains a leading figure in creative circles and in dialogues and debates between china and the west. Gao xingjian nobel literature laureates gao xingjian. Gao, who lives in exile in paris, was embroiled in controversy in china in the 1980s because of his plays. This englishchinese bilingual edition is the complete first book of poems written by nobel prize winner gao xingjian.
The nobel prize in literature for 2000 goes to the chinese writer gao xingjian for an. Gao, som studerat franska, sandes under kulturrevolutionen ut pa landet for att omskolas. See more ideas about gao, chinese painting and painting. Gao xingjian biographical g ao xingjian, born january 4, 1940 in ganzhou jiangxi province in eastern china, is today a french citizen. When gao xingjian won the nobel prize for literature in 2000, he became the only chinese writer to achieve such international acclaim. Last i hope more readers enjoy to read this book as me, thank you. Mair nobel laureate gao xingjian is amongst the most challenging writers of the present era. Gao xingjian is the first chinese recipient of the nobel prize in literature. Online library archive for easy reading any ebook for free anywhere right on the internet.
Hes primarily a playwright, but hes written a couple of novels, and soul mountain was mentioned by the nobel committee as his magnum opus and the primary cause for the award. When gao xingjian was crowned nobel laureate in 2000, it was the first time in the hundredyear history of the nobel prize that this honour had been awarded to an author for a body of works written in chinese. It is a thoughtful, slow moving novel which opens many doors for an. The chineseoverseas nobel prize winner gao xingjian book. This collection of over 60 ink paintings by gao xingjian represents his philosophy and painting style. Lin zhaohuas production of gao xingjian s of mountains and seas is the first time in more than two decades that a mainland chinese cast. The chinese university press is the first publisher of his work in the english language. Writer of prose, translator, dramatist, director, critic and artist. Soul mountain by gao xingjian, mabel lee, paperback. The case for literature hardcover gao xingjian author, ms. I enjoyed the work and found it to be very much in line with what my own personal vision of the theater is.
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