WHAT: An RASBJ Zoom talk by Susan Daruvala Trinity College, Cambridge, moderated by Eileen Vickery, followed by Q&A
WHEN: June 2 Wednesday 7.00PM BEIJING STANDARD TIME.

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT:
Zhang Ailing (1920-1995) is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant writers in 20th century China. Stella Benson (1892-1933) was an English writer who is very little mentioned nowadays. However, Zhang named Benson as her favourite Western woman writer. In this talk Dr. Daruvala examines the significant parallels in both their backgrounds and their work: both came from prominent families from which they broke away, and both lived in China and had first-hand knowledge of Hong Kong society. Both of them also distrusted the grand narratives of the times they lived in. Intriguingly, their writing used imagery in similar ways. Dr. Daruvala analyzes why this may be so.

MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
After completing her BA in Chinese Studies at Leeds University, Susan Daruvala took the MSc in Politics with special reference to China at SOAS, graduating in 1974. From 1975-77 she taught English in Shanghai, before moving to Hong Kong, India and finally the University of Chicago where she did her PhD (1993) on the essayist Zhou Zuoren. She began teaching modern Chinese literature at the University of Cambridge in 1995, with research interests in the modern Chinese essay, Chinese aesthetic discourses, the literary scene in Republican China and film.
Eileen Vickery is a specialist in modern Chinese literature and gender studies. She led the recent RASBJ tour of LaoShe’s former residence

HOW MUCH:
This event is free and exclusively for members of the RASBJ and other RAS branches, plus guests invited specifically by RASBJ. If you know someone who wants to join the RASBJ in order to attend this talk, please ask them to sign up via our website at https://rasbj.org/membership/ at least 48 hours before the event.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT ON ZOOM: