Murong – winner of a 2010 People’s Literature Award, one of China’s highest literary awards – is no stranger to controversy. A staunch critic of the Chinese state, he was prevented from delivering his acceptance speech at the awards, calling for an end to state censorship. He was arrested an interrogated in Beijing last year after making a series of public speeches on the same subject.
Unlike many of his peers, he has never joined the government-sponsored China Writers Association. Despite frequent warnings, he continues to live in China and is widely celebrated for his darkly funny tale of contemporary Chinese urban life.
Considered a beacon for independent writers and thinkers everything, uses his position as a writer to draw attention to injustices.