About the book
An NPR Best Book of the Year
London translator Iona Kirkpatrick is at work on a new project: a collection of letters and diaries by a Chinese punk guitarist named Kublai Jian. As she translates the handwritten pages, a story of romance and revolution emerges between Jian, who believes there is no art without political commitment, and Mu, a poet whom he loves as fiercely as his ideals.
Iona cannot know that Jian has come to Britain seeking political asylum and is mere miles away in Dover, awaiting news of his fate. Mu is in Beijing, writing letters to London, feverishly trying to track Jian down. As Iona charts the course of their twenty-year relationship from its beginnings at Beijing University to Jian’s defiant march in the Jasmine Revolution, her empty life takes on an urgent purpose: to bring Jian and Mu together again before it’s too late.
Editions of I Am China
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780804170475
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780385538718
- EBook
- ISBN 9780385538725
Read an Excerpt
An NPR Best Book of the Year
London translator Iona Kirkpatrick is at work on a new project: a collection of letters and diaries by a Chinese punk guitarist named Kublai Jian. As she translates the handwritten pages, a story of romance and revolution emerges between Jian, who believes there is no art without political commitment, and Mu, a poet whom he loves as fiercely as his ideals.
Iona cannot know that Jian has come to Britain seeking political asylum and is mere miles away in Dover, awaiting news of his fate. Mu is in Beijing, writing letters to London, feverishly trying to track Jian down. As Iona charts the course of their twenty-year relationship from its beginnings at Beijing University to Jian’s defiant march in the Jasmine Revolution, her empty life takes on an urgent purpose: to bring Jian and Mu together again before it’s too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Am China about?
An NPR Best Book of the Year
London translator Iona Kirkpatrick is at work on a new project: a collection of letters and diaries by a Chinese punk guitarist named Kublai Jian. As she translates the handwritten pages, a story of romance and revolution emerges between Jian, who believes there is no art without political commitment, and Mu, a poet whom he loves as fiercely as his ideals.
Iona cannot know that Jian has come to Britain seeking political asylum and is mere miles away in Dover, awaiting news of his fate. Mu is in Beijing, writing letters to London, feverishly trying to track Jian down. As Iona charts the course of their twenty-year relationship from its beginnings at Beijing University to Jian’s defiant march in the Jasmine Revolution, her empty life takes on an urgent purpose: to bring Jian and Mu together again before it’s too late.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in I Am China?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of I Am China?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780804170475
Who is/are the Author/s of the book I Am China?
Xiaolu Guo
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
I Am China is available as paperback(ISBN 9780804170475) and altformat(ISBN 9780385538718) and ebook(ISBN 9780385538725)
Where can I buy I Am China online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy I Am China from below
Where can I buy I Am China?