Dancing in Chains

Squeezed by both political and commercial pressures, China’s book publishers face an existential crisis. How can the industry survive, let alone publish anything interesting?

From the Archive

The Nanny’s Tale

A migrant worker leaves her own child behind to survive, becoming a nanny in Beijing. When she hears of a literary community for migrants, she finds her own voice for the first time.

The Thief Who Became a Celebrity

When Zhou Liqi went viral for stealing scooters to protest lack of opportunity, he sparked a debate between the popular movement of “lying flat” and the state’s desire for “positive energy.” The state won.