The Writer as Migrant

Ha Jin's The Writer as Migrant explores the questions of language, migration, and the place of literature in a rapidly globalizing world. It consists of three interconnected essays that explore the obligation of writers to their birth land, the choice of literary language, and the reconceptualization of home in a changing era. Jin brings other celebrated writers into the conversation, creating a work of passionately engaged criticism that is both a reflection on a crucial theme and a fascinating glimpse at the writers who compose Ha Jin's mental library.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2024
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Ha Jin, a renowned novelist, delves into profound inquiries concerning language, migration, and the evolving role of literature in a rapidly globalizing world. Presented in the form of three interconnected essays, The Writer as Migrant intricately weaves Ha Jin's personal experiences and artistic journey alongside the narratives of other literary exiles, fostering a captivating dialogue across cultures and eras. Through the lens of Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Chinese novelist Lin Yutang, Jin highlights the profound obligation a writer holds towards the land of their birth, emphasizing the deep connection between an author and their roots. Additionally, Joseph Conrad and Vladimir Nabokov, who, like Jin, chose English as their literary language, are enlisted to explore the conscious decision of a migrant author to adopt a foreign tongue. A concluding essay draws upon the insights of V.S. Naipaul and Milan Kundera to examine the ways in which our era of perpetual change compels a migrant writer to reimagine the very concept of home. Throughout, Jin engages with a host of celebrated writers, including W.G. Sebald, C.P. Cavafy, and Salman Rushdie, engaging in a thoughtful exploration and refinement of the concept of a literature of migration.

Concurrently serving as a reflection on a significant thematic concern and offering a captivating glimpse into the minds of Ha Jin's literary influences, The Writer as Migrant emerges as a work of deeply passionate criticism, rooted in departures yet exuding a sense of fresh arrival.

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226833835