This season on Underreported with Nicholas Lemann, we’re focusing on our new book, The Subplot: What China Is Reading and Why It Matters, by journalist and critic Megan Walsh. Our three-part series explores not only the content of the book, but why it is worth our time and attention.
The Nuanced Literary Voices in China
A Conversation with Megan Walsh and Rosie Blau
This is two of our three-part series on the book The Subplot: What China Is Reading and Why It Matters. China is often seen as a monolith, especially by Westerners who think they know how Chinese citizens live, and even what their ideals are. But we want to dispel the master narrative. In her book, author Megan Walsh offers up a wide, nuanced variety of Chinese writing previously confined to Chinese readers. The works of fiction she has managed to uncover help us to better understand the country and its people.
This episode, we’re joined by Megan, as well as Rosie Blau, editor of 1843 magazine, and contributor to The Economist.
This is episode two of a three-part series
Transcript
to learn more about Columbia Global Reports, visit us at globalreports.columbia.edu
In The Subplot, journalist and critic Megan Walsh takes the reader on a lively journey through the last two decades of China’s literary landscape, illustrating the country’s complex relationship between art and politics. She also dispels assumptions Westerners make about censorship, and opens up a view of Chinese society that you don’t see through conventional news coverage.
“A sharp, revealing portrait of contemporary China…. Elegantly written and fascinating.” —Adam Foulds, author of The Quickening Maze
episode credits
Produced by Tracey Madigan
Associate producer Liann Herder
Audio engineer John Weppler
We want to thank the Mellon Foundation and its support for this podcast.
You can find all of our podcasts, and more information about our books at globalreports.columbia.edu