Liu Zhenyun, Chinese Literature Giant, Visits Nicosia Book Fest 2023, Sharing His Most Recent Translated Novels with Global Readers

Liu Zhenyun, celebrated Chinese author, explores his distinctive literary works at Nicosia Book Fest 2023, where China is the Country of Honour.

on Oct 18, 2023

Liu Zhenyun, Chinese Literature Giant, Visits Nicosia Book Fest 2023, Sharing His Most Recent Translated Novels with Global Readers | Frontlist

Liu Zhenyun, one of the most renowned and influential authors in China's contemporary literature world, showcased his translated works and shared his ideas behind the creations that interweave tragedies and comedies of ordinary yet unique people at the Nicosia Book Fest 2023, Cyprus's most prestigious literary event, which features China as the Country of Honour.

Under the theme "Separation of Mountains and Seas, Reunion in Laughter and Tears," Liu Zhenyun's works sharing event at the 8th Edition of the Nicosia Book Fest, hosted by China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd., welcomed Professor Dr. Kostas Gouliamos, Deputy President of the Prometheus Research Institute, Ordinary Member of the European Academy of Science and Arts, Former Rector of the European

His strong storytelling crosses borders and captures the essence of mankind, enthralling readers worldwide with his distinctive blend of humour, philosophy, and poignant storylines. His short stories and novellas are recognised as classics of China's contemporary literature.

"One Day, Three Autumns," a tale that charts the life of a father and son whose experiences are characterised by endless travel that brings them into contact with a diverse array of individuals, seeing, feeling, and testing the bittersweetness that defines human existence, takes centre stage. The book digs into the relationships between humour, nation, and community, exposing the terrible character of jokes about ordinary people who can't escape but must endure and laugh at life's absurdities.

"This is a book that explores the links between a joke and a person," he stated of the book. When some people reflect on their lives, they realise that their entire existence has been reduced to jokes. However, there is one individual who seeks for comedy in other people's dreams. Through this desire, he eventually becomes an immortal capable of living for three thousand years."

"This is the most exciting edition of the Nicosia Book Fest I've seen." We conducted debates about mutual learning between civilizations, with language serving as the cornerstone for cultural interactions. We try to encourage Chinese language acquisition in order to open insights into Chinese culture, allowing more people to appreciate works like those of Liu Zhenyun. "We also invite publishers to consider including excerpts from his books in textbooks, providing more learning materials to help individuals read, write, and speak Chinese as a gateway to understanding Chinese culture," Cao Li added.

At the event, Professor Dr. Kostas Gouliamos expressed his excitement for the Greek translation of Liu's work and emphasised his eagerness for its release. He praised Liu Zhenyun's perceptive and enthralling writing, which has struck a chord with readers from all walks of life around the world.

Liu Zhenyun's literary career spans several decades and includes critically regarded works such as "Tofu", "College", "Office", "Officials", "Recruits", and "Remembering 1942". Later novels, such as "Cellphone", "The Cook, the Crook, and the Real Estate Tycoon", "Nonsense Talk", "Someone To Talk To", "I Did Not Kill My Husband", "Strange Bedfellows", and "One Day Three Autumns", have received both critical acclaim and a loyal global following. His honours include the coveted Mao Dun Literature Prize in China in 2011 and the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2018.

Readers in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Hebrew, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Kazak, Uygur, and many other languages have been attracted by Liu Zhenyun's writings. To date, Liu Zhenyun's works have sold over 15 million copies in China alone, including multiple film adaptations.