Opening up Chinese literature to French minds

French writer Yannick Haenel has read ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi (369-286 BC), Qing Dynasty novelist Cao Xueqin (1715-63) and contemporary best-selling novelist Mian Mian.

He was mulling which book should be his fourth, at the Chinese-French writers' conversation on June 5. It was part of the Summer Novel Festival, organized by the French embassy in China.

Three French writers, Alma Brami, Yannick Haenel and Laurent Mauvignier gathered with five of their Chinese counterparts - Han Xiaohui, Liu Qingbang, Liu Zhenyun, Mian Mian, Xu Xing and Zhang Yueran - for a lively discussion about their knowledge of each other, about the generation gap among writers, and about the relationship between literature and history.