Yiyun Li
Encyclopedia
Yiyun Li (born 1972) is a Chinese American
writer. Her debut short story collection A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
won the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award
, and her second collection Gold Boy, Emerald Girl was shortlisted for the same award. Her debut novel The Vagrants was shortlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
.
She was named a 2010 MacArthur Fellow. She is an editor of Brooklyn-based literary magazine, A Public Space
.
, China
, and moved to the United States after earning a B.S. at Peking University
in 1996. She earned an MS
in immunology at the University of Iowa, an MFA
in creative nonfiction
from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
. Her stories and essays have been published in The New Yorker
, The Paris Review, and Zoetrope: All-Story. Two of the stories from A Thousand Years of Good Prayers were adapted into 1997 films directed by Wayne Wang
: The Princess of Nebraska
and the title story
, which Li adapted herself.
She lives in Oakland, California
, with her husband and their two sons, and teaches at University of California, Davis
.
wrote,
Ian Thomson of The Independent
wrote,
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
writer. Her debut short story collection A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (stories)
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the debut story collection by Yiyun Li. It received the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Guardian First Book Award, Whiting Writers' Award and California Book Award for first fiction...
won the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award
Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award
The Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award is a literary award for short story collections. At 35,000 euro for the best book of short stories it claims to be the world's largest prize for a short story collection. Each year, roughly sixty books are longlisted, with either four or six books...
, and her second collection Gold Boy, Emerald Girl was shortlisted for the same award. Her debut novel The Vagrants was shortlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
.
She was named a 2010 MacArthur Fellow. She is an editor of Brooklyn-based literary magazine, A Public Space
A Public Space
A Public Space is a quarterly English-language literary magazine based in Brooklyn, New York. First published in April 2006. A Public Space publishes fiction, poetry, essays and art...
.
Life
Yiyun Li grew up in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and moved to the United States after earning a B.S. at Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
in 1996. She earned an MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in immunology at the University of Iowa, an MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service...
from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
. Her stories and essays have been published in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, The Paris Review, and Zoetrope: All-Story. Two of the stories from A Thousand Years of Good Prayers were adapted into 1997 films directed by Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
: The Princess of Nebraska
The Princess of Nebraska
The Princess of Nebraska is a 2007 film directed by Wayne Wang. It stars Li Ling and Brian Danforth. It was adapted from a story by Yiyun Li.-Cast:*Li Ling as Sasha*Brian Danforth as Boshen*Minghua Tan as May*Zhi Hao Li as Driver...
and the title story
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is a 2007 drama feature film directed by Wayne Wang starring Yu Feihong, Henry O, Vida Ghahremani and Pasha Lychnikoff, adapted from the short story by Yiyun Li and shot on a high-end high-definition video camera...
, which Li adapted herself.
She lives in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, with her husband and their two sons, and teaches at University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
.
Awards
- Whiting Writers' AwardWhiting Writers' AwardThe Whiting Writers' Award is an American award presented annually to ten emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and plays. The award is sponsored by the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation and has been presented since 1985. As of 2007, winners receive US $50,000.-External links:**...
- Lannan Foundation residency in Marfa, TX
- Frank O'Connor International Short Story AwardFrank O'Connor International Short Story AwardThe Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award is a literary award for short story collections. At 35,000 euro for the best book of short stories it claims to be the world's largest prize for a short story collection. Each year, roughly sixty books are longlisted, with either four or six books...
, for her debut collection, A Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good Prayers (stories)A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the debut story collection by Yiyun Li. It received the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Guardian First Book Award, Whiting Writers' Award and California Book Award for first fiction... - PEN/Hemingway Award for A Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good Prayers (stories)A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the debut story collection by Yiyun Li. It received the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Guardian First Book Award, Whiting Writers' Award and California Book Award for first fiction...
- Guardian First Book AwardGuardian First Book AwardGuardian First Book Award, issued before 1999 as Guardian Fiction Prize or Guardian Fiction Award, is awarded to new writing in fiction and non-fiction.-History:...
for A Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good Prayers (stories)A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the debut story collection by Yiyun Li. It received the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Guardian First Book Award, Whiting Writers' Award and California Book Award for first fiction... - California Book Award first fiction award for A Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good Prayers (stories)A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is the debut story collection by Yiyun Li. It received the 2005 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the 2006 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Guardian First Book Award, Whiting Writers' Award and California Book Award for first fiction...
- GrantaGrantaGranta is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centers on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make real." In 2007, The Observer stated, "In its blend of...
's 21 Best of Young American Novelists - California Book Award for The Vagrants
- The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
s 20 under 40 - MacArthur FoundationMacArthur FoundationThe John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
fellow - Story PrizeStory PrizeThe Story Prize is an annual book award established in 2004 that honors the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award. Each of two runners-up receives $5,000. Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the United States during a calendar...
finalist for Gold Boy, Emerald Girl - She was shortlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary AwardInternational IMPAC Dublin Literary AwardThe International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
for The Vagrants, praised by the eventual winner Colum McCannColum McCannColum McCann is an Irish writer of literary fiction. He is a Professor of Contemporary Literature at European Graduate School and Professor of Fiction at CUNY Hunter College's Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing with fellow novelists Peter Carey, twice winner of the Man Booker Prize,...
as "crossing all kinds of territories, it's poetic and brave, a great charge of a novel". - She was shortlisted for the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story AwardFrank O'Connor International Short Story AwardThe Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award is a literary award for short story collections. At 35,000 euro for the best book of short stories it claims to be the world's largest prize for a short story collection. Each year, roughly sixty books are longlisted, with either four or six books...
for Gold Boy, Emerald Girl.
Reviews
Stephanie Merritt of The ObserverThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
wrote,
Yiyun Li's 2005 debut story collection A Thousand Years of Good Prayers earned her comparisons with ChekhovAnton ChekhovAnton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
and Alice MunroAlice MunroAlice Ann Munro is a Canadian short-story writer, the winner of the 2009 Man Booker International Prize for her lifetime body of work, a three-time winner of Canada's Governor General's Award for fiction, and a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize...
. Her first novel, The Vagrants, draws heavily on the art of the short story as it follows a disparate group of citizens of the industrial town of Muddy River over three months in 1979.
Ian Thomson of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
wrote,
With its controlled understatement and scrupulous and unsparing lucidity, The Vagrants is a work of great moral poise and dignity. These days, few writers can be said to possess gravitas; yet Yiyun Li exudes a seriousness that would be remarkable in one twice her age. As a chronicle of political betrayal under a modern dictatorship, The Vagrants is a minor classic; I have not read such a compelling work in years.
External links
- Yiyun Li's Official Homepage
- "Audio: Yiyun Li on Translating Shen Congwen" Center for the Art of Translation
- "The Rumpus Interview with Yiyun Li", January 14th, 2009
- January 2009 interview with Yiyun Li
- "Executioner Songs", The Wall Street Journal, JANUARY 30, 2009
- "Interviews: Yiyun Li", Identity Theory
- Articles by Yuyun Li on her UK publisher's blog, 5th Estate
- Yiyun Li speaks about Gold Boy, Emerald Girl on KRUI's The Lit Show
- Video: The Story Prize reading with Anthony DoerrAnthony DoerrAnthony Doerr is an American fiction writer. Raised in nearby Novelty, Ohio, he majored in history at Bowdoin College and earned an MFA from Bowling Green State University....
and Suzanne Rivecca. March 2, 2011.