The Chinese Author Who Might Secure the Nobel Prize
Image credit: TheBookPrizes In a realm where her name is scarcely recognized even within China, Can Xue's literary star could be on the rise as she stands a chance to win this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. Born just a few years before China was thrust into the tumultuous grip of the Cultural Revolution, Can Xue's life was marked by one of the most chaotic periods of the 20th century. One of eight children, she bore witness to the upheaval that saw her father, an editorial director at a newspaper, exiled to the countryside for manual labor during the Communist purge. Her mother, employed at the same publication, faced a similar fate. With their parents forcibly separated from them, Can Xue, her siblings, and their grandmother were left to fend for themselves. They endured on meager sustenance, surviving on pumpkin flowers and mountain weeds. In their most desperate moments, they even resorted to consuming Can Xue's father's old clothing, including a fur coat. T...