Yilin Zhong

Yilin Zhong

Yilin Zhong in 2012
Born China
Occupation Novelist/Screenwriter/Journalist/Radio Presenter
Education MA in Cultural Studies, BA in Drama
Alma mater Central Academy of Drama, University of Warwick
Period 1981–present
Genre Literary Fiction
Website
blog.sina.com.cn/1232115570

Yilin Zhong (simplified Chinese: 钟宜霖; traditional Chinese: 鍾宜霖) is a British Chinese writer born in China, an Award-winning Journalist and a No.3 Amazon(China) bestselling author. She was known as one of leading contemporary women writers[1] of Chinese Post 70s Generation.[2] She now lives in London.

Early life

Yilin Zhong was born in China and began to learn writing words from her grandmother when she was 2 years old. Both her parents were high school Chinese literature teachers, although her father was a literary editor at Chinese Literature Union at Beijing, and then was exiled to south west China during the Cultural Revolution. Yilin Zhong wrote her first poem at age 5 which was released when she was 7,[3] and she started to write short stories at 12, which was released in Shanghai Youth Literature. At 13, she wrote a research thesis 'Who broke up the wood-stone engagement?' and it was released in the academic journal A Dream of Red Mansions Journal[4] in 1993.

At age 14, Yilin Zhong wrote her first full length novel "Embracing the Sun", which was not published, and then she wrote her second novel "Sunshine and the Monsoon" at age 16, which was published in 1995 and won national reputation,[5] and was interviewed by CCTV's Book Review program as its youngest writer.[6] In 1996 she received an Award voted by national readers, for a short story released in Shanghai Youth Literature, as the "Best Work of The Year".

At age 16, Yilin Zhong received the highest mark 90(of 100) in the final interview at Central Academy of Drama, and she decided to go to the Central Academy of Drama and study Drama Literature and Play Writing, while she also passed the exam for the Play Director department.

Education

Yilin Zhong was educated in The Central Academy of Drama at Beijing, China, and achieved distinction BA degree in Drama Literature and Playwriting.

In 2002, she came to the UK and achieved MA degree in Cultural Studies from University of Warwick. Afterward she immigrated to the UK and has being lived in London.

Career

Yilin Zhong started her creative literary writing since she was 5-year-old. In 1995, she published her first novel "Sunshine and the Monsoon"(under pen-name '鍾鲲') and became a well-known talented young writer and a 'rising star'[7] in China. In 1996 She was interviewed by the CCTV(China Central TV Station)'s Book Review program as its youngest writer, and was called 'hugely successful and notable'.[8] From 1995 to 2002, while she was at Beijing, she was working for Beijing TV station, Beijing Broadcasting station and various magazines and newspapers,[9] published five books, including three novels, one essays and one short stories collection.[8] She was ironically listed in 'Top 10 most beautiful Chinese women writers online' together with Wei Hui and Mian Mian by internet readers[10] (although she said it was 'totally a misunderstanding'[11]), and become an iconic figure of 'New Women' writers of the 'Post 70s Generation' in China.[2] Meanwhile she also became a successful journalist[12] and received a National Award for her exceptional contribution on reporting the IT technology blooming in China. She wrote a film script "Sunshine and the Monsoon" (adapted from her own novel) at age 19 and it was shortlisted for The Best Film Script in China in 1996.[13] Her translation work "In a Station of the Metro"(Ezra Pound) was collected into China National High School's Literature Textbook in 2004;[14] and her letter to editor was published in 'One person's Literature History'(by Cheng Yongxin, Editor-in-chief of Harvest Literary Magazine) as one of writers' record in contemporary Chinese literature.[15] Before coming to the UK, she was one of notable contemporary women writers in China,[16] and was known as one of leading women writers in the 'Post 70s Generation' writers,[17] among all Chinese women writers whom 'supported half sky of Chinese literature' [1] in the 20th century.

After immigrating to the UK in 2002, she has being lived in London anonymously and continued writing fictions, essays, drama criticism, etc. In a recent news, Yilin Zhong said she had decided that she would never work in mass media again after 'working as a journalist in media industry for years' in China, because 'to report news in China', was 'completely a challenge of humanity's conscience and the bottom line'.[18] This may have explained why she has completely vanished from media and has not had any interviews since 2002, while continuing writing and publishing novels and books in Chinese language.

"London Single Diary"(2009) was her first series writing written in the UK, its twin work "London Love Story"(a novel) was published in 2010, and they both became bestsellers in China. In 2011, her novel "Chinatown"(written in 2005 at London) was released in "Harvest", the prestigious literary journal in China, which released American Chinese writer Ha Jin, British Chinese writer Yilin Zhong, and Taiwanese writer Qi Bang Yuan's works as a 'Special Issue of Oversea-Chinese Writers'.[19] In 2012, she translated "The Noble Price in Literature 2012 Award Ceremony Speech"(Awarded to Chinese writer Mo Yan) into Chinese and published in China,[20] which was the only complete full version released in China without official abridgment. She attended the London Book Fair in 2012 and met many Beijing writer friends, such as the Vice Editor-in-chief of People's Literature and Pathlight magazines, whom recalled their friendship in Beijing in his published London Diaries.[21] She also wrote London drama reviews for Chinese newspapers and National Drama Journal.[22] In 2013, her novel "Personal Statement"(written in 2000 at Beijing) was published in Shanghai, and was recommended by Swedish Taiwanese writer Wenfen CHEN-MALMQVIST, whom commented that "her 23-year-old thought seems even more fulfilling than my 40 years' life".[23]

In 2013, she joint a reality dating TV show of Channel 4 and appeared on First Dates as herself in June–July 2013. This was her first public appearance in the UK and she became the its TV advert showgirl.[24] In 2014, Harvest published the Kindle version of Chinatown,[19] which peaked at #1 at Amazon's Paid Kindle Bestselling Literary Fiction list within one week;[25] the paperback edition "Chinatown" was published in 2015,[26] and was appraised to have filled the "remarkable blank space of illegal immigration in contemporary Chinese literature history" (Editor's Review).[6] In March 2015, Yilin Zhong had her first interview since 2002 with Harvest literary magazine for her new book 'Chinatown', and the interviewer recommended that "one of this literary work's very great significance", is that "it has changed our understanding of the world".[25]

Works

Work written in China (1990-2002)

Embracing the Sun (Novel)

A teenager's story about one girl and three boys' friendship and their growing up confusion.

Sunshine and the Monsoon (Novel)

An university enrollment challenge between a girl and a boy, they are both outstanding but they have to face the cruel life changing competition as there is only one winner. Published in 1995.

Sunshine and the Monsoon (Film Script)

Adapted from the published novel.

No Title (Novella)

A group of Art school youth are planning to catch a ghost in their classroom building at one night. Published in 2005.

Say Love (Novel)

A romance between a 17 years old girl and a 25-year-old DJ, and they broke up because they could not make love. Published in 1998.

Eyes in Subway (Essays)

Essay collection between 1993 and 1998, including a series travel writing of 'Travel of Changjiang River'.[5] Published in 2001.

A Love Fiction (Novel)

An university girl fell in love with another student in their journey at Shanghai. She was called a 'natural born writer' in this book's review.[27] Published in 2001.

No Punk Time (Novella)

An art university student one day suddenly found out he became a punk without knowing—After he got drunk and shaved his hair.

Published in 2001 in a collection of young Chinese writers, together with other 'Post 70s Generation' writers Mian Mian, Wei Hui, and Xiaolu Guo, etc.[28]

True Life (Novella)

A new graduate film PR encountered a previous banker and now music executive who might take her fall in love. Published in 2003.

The Postmodern Situation (Novel)

A full fragments of pieces of everyone's modern life in this metropolitan city.

Personal Statement (Novel)

A successful girl's unsuccessful personal life. A time Ukiyo-e of China’s all classes’ living statues in the early 21st century. Published in 2013.

Chinese patient (Novella)

A psychiatric man found out that all others around him are schizophrenia.

Going to Tibet (Short stories)

A collection of short stories between 1993 and 2000. Published in 2005.

Work written in the UK (2002-2012)

London Single Diary (Series 1, season 1-4)

A Chinese girl's single diary of her first three years impression and experience in London.

S1.1. London Notes (Year 1)

S1.2. Britain Essays (Year 1-2)

S1.3. Seasons of England (Year 2)

S1.4. London Life (Year 3)

London Single Diary (Novel)

A summary collection of the season 1-4 stories. Published in 2009 in China, and peaked at #50 at Amazon Bestselling Fiction List in 2010.

London Love Story (Novel)

The love story between an oriental girl and three charming English men happened in London.[29]

Published in 2010 in China, peaked at #3 in Amazon Bestselling Fiction List, and #10 at Amazon Overall Bestseller List.

Chinatown (Novel)

The novel tells the story of a group of illegal immigration living in the dark area of London, with no identity, no money, no family and relatives; they cannot speak English but they choose to live in an English country, and their only hope is to survive.

Published in 2011 in "Harvest", sold out in three months. Kindle book peaked at #1 in Amazon Paid Kindle Bestselling Literary Fiction list in 2014.[26] Paperback edition published in 2015.

Textual Life (Novel)

It is a story between a Chinese writer and a group of English musician, artists and unknown writers, the common among them is that they have nothing but hope of life.

London Single Lady (Series 2, season 1-6)

A single girl's diary and love stories—This is all about sex, dating, romance, relationship and love.

S2.1. The Mayfair Affair (Novel)

Once upon a time, when Cinderella met a multi-millionaire bachelor at Mayfair...

S2.2. The Last Novel of Romance (Novel)

At the first sight when she met him, she thought he is a perfect husband material: good looking English, an investment banker living at South Kensington. However, six months later, all pictures start to show its real color.

S2.3. London Single Lady (Novel)

Four independent career single beauties + more than four charming bachelors = tons of stories. Hello sweetheart, this is not Sex and the City, This is London.

S2.4. Single Girl's Diary (Novel)

Girls put your records on, tell me your favorite man for fun.

S2.5. A 36 Hours' Film (Novella)

A purely luxury romance, with love only, all within 36 hours.

S2.6. London Single Fairytale (Novel)

When a foreign girl met a classic English noble gentleman, isn't it a modern fairytale? Or, is it only a fairytale?

Work in progress (2012-Present)

London Party Season (New Series, in progress)

S3.1. London Party Season (work in progress)

A city banker's wife is throwing a house warming party, and there are many people invited and attended, including someone and her ex-boyfriend, and other sexual conflict. OK, we know the fire is in the air, but let's just relax and see: after all, this is now London's social party season, isn't it? [30]

S3.2. Lord's Party (work in progress)

It is Valentine's Day today, are you still single and being alone at home? Poor baby, don't be so sad, come on, let's go to the Lord's party!

Books

Written in Chinese and Published in China

Novel

  1. Sunshine and the Monsoon (Novel, January 1995)
  2. Say Love (Novel, September 1998)
  3. A Love Fiction (Novel, September 2001)
  4. London Single Diary (Novel, August 2009)
  5. London Love Story (Novel, May 2010)
  6. Personal Statement (Novel, June 2013)
  7. Chinatown (Novel, January 2015)

Essays and short stories

  1. Eyes in Subway (Essays, January 2001)
  2. Going to Tibet (Short Stories, January 2005)
  3. London Single Diary (Series 1, season 1-4, TBC)

Other works

  1. Sunshine and the Monsoon (Film Script, shortlisted for the best Chinese film script in 1996)
  2. The Postmodern Situation (Novel)
  3. Textual Life (Novel)
  4. London Single Diary (Fiction, Series 2)
  5. Postmodernism and the Third World (Research Essay, in English)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Half scene and half sky--women's writing research_China Book News/半边风景半边天—漫谈女性写作_中华读书报" (in Chinese). Sohu News/搜狐新闻. 29 Nov 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 李师东 (11 April 2001). "One hundred reasons of being youth_China Book News/一百个年轻的理由_中华读书报" (in Chinese). Guangming Net/光明网. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Zhongkun_news_society-hot/钟鲲-资讯-资讯热点" (in Chinese). Hanwang Book City/汉王书城. 22 Nov 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "A Dream of Red Mansions Journal/红楼梦学刊" (in Chinese). 1993. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Writing the memory of youth_China Book News/书写青春记忆_中华读书报" (in Chinese). Guangming Net/光明网. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Postmodern Chinese living in their imagination-'Chinatown' Introduction and Book Review/《唐人街》：在伦敦的中国人" (in Chinese). China Writer Net/中国作家网. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Frank Meinshausen (6 Dec 2004). "I do not select Wang Shuo_Ouline online/我不选王朔！-欧览在线" (in Chinese). Suhrkamp. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 洛希 (March 2007). "Yilin Zhong, A single girl in London_Beatles Magazine/钟宜霖，单身女人在伦敦_《甲壳虫》" (in Chinese). China Knowledge Net/中国知网. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "National Love_Eastern News Daily/倾国之恋-东方早报" (in Chinese). Eastern News Daily/东方早报. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  10. ↑ 燕山飘雪 (31 Oct 2005). "Online literature research_Literary channel/网络文学理论漫谈（总论）-文学频道" (in Chinese). Hongxiutianxiang Net/红袖添香. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  11. ↑ 刘久立 (18 April 2001). "Beauty writer Zhongkun_Contemporary writers_Literary masters/美女作家钟鲲_当代作家_文艺名家" (in Chinese). People's Net/人民网. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Discover Zhongkun's literary sky_TV interview record_CCTV/感受钟鲲的文字天空_采访记录_中央电视台" (in Chinese). CCTV. 17 Dec 2001. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Yilin Zhong_Baike/钟宜霖_百科" (in Chinese). Baidu Baike/百度百科. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Translations of Pound's 'In a Station of the Metro'_New Textbook People's Education Edition_Obligatory 1 teaching plan/庞德《地铁车站》的诸种译文_新课标人教版_必修1教案课件" (in Chinese). Chinese textbook room/语文轩. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  15. ↑ 程永新 (1 Oct 2007). "One Person's Literature History/《一个人的文学史》" (in Chinese). Tianjing Renminmeishu Publishing House/天津人民美术出版社. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Post 70s generation's text_Youth News/70年代生青年作家群的情感文本_《青年时讯》" (in Chinese). China.com.cn/中國網. 24 May 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "New generation's writing_Cultural Friday_China.com.cn/新生代寫作的優勢與局限_文化星期五_中國網" (in Chinese). Beijing Daily/《北京日报》. 29 Nov 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "CCTV producer wrote 'leaving CCTV'/央视制片人撰《告别央视》撼动网络" (in Chinese). 大紀元/Epoch Times. 2 Dec 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Harvest-No.21 Novel issue/收获-长篇专号第二十一期-收获-齐邦媛-哈金-抗凝-钟宜霖" (in Chinese). Harvest literary magazine/《收获》文学杂志社. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  20. ↑ 叶开 (1 Feb 2013). "Mo Yan's Literary Republic/《莫言的文学共和国》" (in Chinese). Beijing University Press/北京大学出版社. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  21. ↑ 邱华栋 (January 2014). "London Book Fair's 7 days Diaries/《伦敦书展七日记》" (in Chinese). Fiction Forest/小说林. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  22. ↑ 钟宜霖 (30 May 2012). "London Theater: Chinese 'Richard III'/在伦敦观剧：中国版《理查三世》·南方日报数字报·南方报网" (in Chinese). Southern News Daily/南方日报. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Personal Statement/北京北京_钟宜霖_图书" (in Chinese). Shanghai Literary Publishing House/上海文艺出版社. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "First dates-Mating Season-Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 党霄羽 (1 March 2015). "Dialogue: Exploring the value of literature in contemporary time through characters' various lives in 'Chinatown'/对话: 从《唐人街》的众生百态看现世中文学的价值" (in Chinese). Harvest Literary Magazine/《收获》文学杂志社. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Editor's Review/编辑推荐 (1 January 2015). "Chinatown/《唐人街》" (in Chinese). Jiangsu Phoenix Literary Publishing House/江苏凤凰文艺出版社. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  27. ↑ 石康 (4 Feb 2002). "Dance in front the bookshop/书店门口的街舞" (in Chinese). Yiwen Net/易文网. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "City Inside Roses_baike/《玫瑰深处的城市》_百度百科" (in Chinese). Hainan Publishing House/海南出版社. April 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  29. ↑ Editor's Review/编辑推荐 (3 July 2010). "London Love Story_Book Review/《伦敦爱情故事》-书评·书情" (in Chinese). 新京报. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  30. ↑ "London Party Season - Trail Edition eBook: Yilin Zhong: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store". Retrieved 28 February 2015.

Further reading

  1. (Chinese)'Say Love' book review: 像鍾鯤一樣尖叫:讀鍾鯤之《言情》|葉滿城|網易博客|2005-9-26|Screaming as Zhongkun-Reading 'Say Love'|Ye Mancheng|NetEase blog|26 Sep 2005
  2. (Chinese)'A Love Fiction' book review: 普遍的焦慮：回憶和失憶|周冰心|網易報導|2001-12-30|A general anxiety: memories and amnesia|Zhou Bingxin|NetEase report|30 December 2001
  3. (Chinese)'A Love Fiction' book review: 一條叫鍾鯤的魚|李基濱|網易報導|2002-1-7|A fish named Zhongkun|Lee Jibin|NetEase report|7 Jan 2002
  4. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's audio book recommendation for The Beijing News: Leaf Storm by Gabriel García Márquez 名家薦書•鍾宜霖：馬爾克斯《枯枝敗葉》(音頻)|《新京報書評周刊》|2013-8-10
  5. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's audio record for her book 'Personal Statement' for The Beijing News: 作者薦書•鍾宜霖：《北京，北京》(音頻)|《新京報書評周刊》|2013-8-9
  6. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's audio interview clip for radio broadcasting program: 鍾宜霖的聲音名片(音頻)|電台訪談節目|會客長安|2013-7-31
  7. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's one hour interview record for radio broadcasting program: 鍾宜霖新書《北京北京》電台採訪直播節目錄音（完整版）|電台訪談節目|會客長安|2013-7-31
  8. (English)A piece of 'London Single Diary'-Google translation: Waking up in the morning of London(Diary: 27 June); War, Pestilence and Love (Diary: 9 April)
  9. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's criticism on governors on Kunming tragedy: http://m.guancha.cn/FaZhi/2014_03_02_210038
  10. (Chinese)Yilin Zhong's criticism on Hongkong general election issue: http://tw.epochtimes.com/b5/14/9/2/n4239001.htm
  11. (Chinese) 對話: 從《唐人街》的眾生百態看現世中文學的價值|《收穫》|2015-3-1 (English) Dialogue: Exploring the value of literature in contemporary time through characters' various lives in 'Chinatown'|Harvest|March 2015-Google translation
  12. (Chinese) 《唐人街》新書介紹及第一章試讀|《收穫》|2015-3-1 (English) The first chapter of 'Chinatown' and introduction|Harvest|March 2015-Google translation
  13. (Chinese) 《海外華人駁雜生活的浮世繪》|書評|《中國出版傳媒商報》|2015-3-3 (English) Ukiyo-e of the heterogeneous overseas Chinese living|Book Review|China Publishing News|3 March 2015-Google Translation
  14. (Chinese) 《活在想像中的後現代中國人》|《唐人街》新書推薦及書評|《中國作家》網|2015-3-2 (English) The Postmodern Chinese living in their imagination/Book Review and 'Chinatown' Introduction|Chinese Writer Net|2 March 2015-Google translation
  15. (Chinese) 《唐人街，一個想像中的中國社會》-出版後記|《收穫》|2015-3-1(English) Chinatown, an imaginary community-publishing postscript|Harvest|March 2015-Google translation
  16. (Chinese) 《作者已死：解讀<唐人街>的一種方式》|江蘇文藝出版社|V新聞|2015-3-8(English) Death of the Author: A method to interpret 'Chinatown'|8 March 2015-Google translation
  17. (Chinese) 《访谈︱唐人街是想象中的中国社会》|澎湃新闻|2015-4-8 (English) Interview: Chinatown is an imaginary community|The Paper|8 April 2015-Google translation
  18. (Chinese) Other media reports: (1)《唐人街》:一幅複雜而鮮明的浮世繪|新浪讀書|2015-3-10 (2)鍾宜霖：《唐人街》，在倫敦的中國人|鳳凰網|2015-3-11 (3)《唐人街》：走近生活在倫敦社會邊緣的中國人|搜狐讀書頻道|2015-3-13 (4)唐人街，在倫敦的中國人|《揚子晚報》|網易新聞|2015-3-18 (5)唐人街：一條街上一生戲，生死離合皆文章|江蘇文藝出版社|V新聞|2015-3-8 (6)《唐人街》出版|中國文化傳媒網|2015-3-11 (7)黨霄羽:從《唐人街》的眾生百態看現世中文學的價值|浙江作家網|2015-3-3 (8)《唐人街:在倫敦的中國人》|共識網|2015-3-13 (9)活在舊時代的後現代中國人|東北作家網|2015-3-9 (10)鍾宜霖《唐人街》出版，關注倫敦的中國人|書香重慶|2015-3-11 (11) 《唐人街》：為“不存在”者素描|中國江蘇網|2015-3-12 (12)一幅複雜而鮮明的浮世繪|光明網|2015-3-12 (13)蘭州日報|蘭州新聞網|2015-3-12 (14) 鍾宜霖《唐人街》出版|吉林日報|2015-3-11 (15)龍崗網|2015-3-11 (16)FLK.cc|2015-3-10(17) 漢豐網|2015-3-12 (18)東北網|2015-3-12 (19)《唐人街》:一幅複雜而鮮明的浮世繪|《愛尚生活》雜誌|2015-3-11 (20) 廣州日報|2015-3-20 (21)汕頭都市報|2015-3-15 (22)新書速遞:《唐人街》|石家莊日報|2015-3-23 (23)家國網|2015-3-12 (24)書情:《唐人街》|鳳凰資訊|2015-3-20 (25)書情:《唐人街》|新浪娛樂|2015-3-20 (26)書情:《唐人街》|和訊網|2015-3-20 (27)書情|娛樂星報|新浪台灣|2015-3-20 (28)鳳凰江蘇人氣書榜TOP5:《唐人街》|2015-3-16 (29)唐人街，在倫敦的中國人|《揚子晚報》|2015-3-18(30)《唐人街》為“不存在”者素描|深圳晚報|2015-4-5 (31)2015年度中国影响力图书推展|中国出版传媒商报|2015-3-25 (32)2015年度中国影响力图书推展·第壹季·小说类TOP20|中国出版传媒商报|2015-3-24(33)唐人街的黑户如何生存|腾讯文化|2015-4-9

External links