SECTION SIX

sm

COLUMN FIFTY-THREE, NOVEMBER 1, 2000
(Copyright © 2000 Al Aronowitz)

LETTER FROM CHINA  

Subject: Re: Hello again
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 17:55:03 +0800
From: wenca@mail.sc.cninfo.net (Publishing User)
To: <info@blacklistedjournalist.com>
CC: "Gerald Nicosia" <gnicosia@earthlink.net>  

Dear Al.

Glad to hear from you, my old friend, hoping you can get rid of all troubles that bother you.

Thank you for your encouragement in putting up my letter about my Beat project.  It will take time to write, however, in English and I'd be glad to do so if I am not so occupied as I am---busy as a bee under contracts with and pressure from publishers in writing or translating.  For example, I am to translate John Barth's novel Giles Goat-boy, you know, a gigantic and huge volume in length---very hard to understand its text, not to speak of translating it.  I am now trying to contact John Barth, who is now in New York, for some advice and answers to my questions regarding my translation.

Certainly, the Beat project is always my main and key concern. I am to---upon invitation---lecture on Beat literature in some universities perhaps this term or early next year, depending on if I can find the time.  For Allen I am to discuss Howl, Kaddish and other representative works; and for Jack, mainly On The Road.  My method is to provide both English original texts and my Chinese translations for the audience; in this way they can better understand Allen and Jack.  Also, I am to release a film about Allen---The Time and Life of Allen Ginsberg and recordings of Allen's readings of his poems, showing pictures of concern I took in the States, telling my experiences visiting Beat scholars. etc.  It proves quite responsive for my past lectures as this.  My final plan is to write critical books combining life story and comments on Allen and Jack---already publishers showed their interest and contacted me.

Post-Deng China is in its transition period now.   Yes, people (I think, intellectuals in particular) enjoy much more freedom here than before, something guaranteed in the constitution of PRC [People's Republic of China} so long as they do not offend or challenge the authorities---this can account for the loose censorship in literature and cultural circles.  It is good that most famous writers, poets, thinkers in the West are known in China, where their works have been introduced.  So, one can live better if one can find something to do.  How I wish I could welcome you and Gerry someday here in Chengdu and let you see many interesting things.  For TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE.

Very Best

Chu-an  ##

CLICK HERE TO GET TO INDEX OF COLUMN FIFTY-THREE


CLICK HERE TO GET TO INDEX OF COLUMNS

The Blacklisted Journalist can be contacted at P.O.Box 964, Elizabeth, NJ 07208-0964
The Blacklisted Journalist's E-Mail Address:
info@blacklistedjournalist.com
 
 

THE BLACKLISTED JOURNALIST IS A SERVICE MARK OF AL ARONOWITZ