Su Tong
- Born
Tong Zhonggui, known by the pen name of Su Tong, is a Chinese writer. He was born in Suzhou and lives in Nanjing
Vice president of the Jiangsu Writers Association, Su Tong started to publish novels in 1983 and is known for his controversial writing style. He has written seven full-length novels and over 200 short stories, some of which have been translated into English, German, Italian and French.
He is best known in the West for his book Wives and Concubines (1990), which was adapted into the film, Raise the Red Lantern by director Zhang Yimou. The book has since been published under the name given to the film.
His other works available in English translation are Rice, My Life as Emperor, Binu and the Great Wall (tr. Howard Goldblatt), Madwoman on the Bridge and Other Stories, Tattoo: Three Novellas and The Boat to Redemption, also translated by Goldblatt.
Su Tong was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2011.
Background
Between 2005 - 2015, the Man Booker International Prize recognised one writer for their achievement in fiction.
Worth £60,000, the prize was awarded every two years to a living author who had published fiction either originally in English or whose work is generally available in translation in the English language.
The winner was chosen solely at the discretion of the judging panel and there were no submissions from publishers.
The Man Booker International Prize was different from the annual Man Booker Prize for Fiction in that it highlighted one writer’s overall contribution to fiction on the world stage. In focusing on overall literary excellence, the judges considered a writer’s body of work rather than a single novel.