See also http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/entertainment-arts-17449472 and http://erguotou.wordpress.com

Helen Wang, March 21, 2012, 11:10p.m.

See also http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/entertainment-arts-17449472 and http://erguotou.wordpress.com

Helen Wang, March 21, 2012, 11:46p.m.

At the end of the article, The Guardian notes that "English Pen will be holding a day of events on 29 March that will include writers not included on the official London Book Fair schedule."

Here's the schedule (PDF) for English Pen's China Inside Out.

Looks like they've done a decent job of recruiting voices official China probably doesn't want to hear: author Ma Jian and his translator, Flora Drew; , Kaiser Abdurusul Ozhun (President, Uyghur Pen); Li Jianhong (now banned from returning to China); poet Yang Lian; and Chen Xiwo (author of the controversial I Love my Mum).

Bruce Humes, March 22, 2012, 2:26a.m.

As someone who is not only working at a publishing house in Shanghai, but is also involved with some minor editing of books that are going on display at the London Book Fair, I’m distressed and dismayed at the dismal products that are set to be showcased. What I can tell from my extremely limited perspective is that ‘Red’ books and materials highlighting recent party endeavors at events like the Shanghai Expo are going to be pushed, the translations for which have been outsourced and apportioned between several people -- people who I suspect to be students at neighboring universities, not an uncommon practice -- and even edited between multiple personnel and offices to boot! The result is very, very disheartening. Shoddy and severely uneven translation work with instances of poor English-language editing are ubiquitous. I’m overwhelmed with trying to put out a legible text, let alone a text worthy of reader's time. I am reluctant to trash a workplace I’m currently involved in (merely in the capacity as an intern, I hasten to add), but it seems like everyone in my office is operating under the illusion that the British reading public is going to lap up this refuse! As a PEN member I’m relieved to see that they will be hosting a separate event to highlight the work of writers who have lost a chance at real representation, and perhaps attempt to salvage the image Chinese literature abroad.

Pat, March 22, 2012, 9:24a.m.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the interesting perspective! I was at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2009, when China was the Guest of Honor, and noticed exactly the same thing. While the author events themselves were pretty interesting, the displays by the Chinese publishers were execrable -- not a single thing anyone would want to read, and ironically, no books by the writers who were in attendance.

It's a shame to hear that it will likely be the same at the LBF. I sincerely believe that the writers going represent an excellent slice of Chinese literature: why can't the publishing displays match that kind of excellence?

Eric Abrahamsen, March 23, 2012, 3:32a.m.