Pen mightier than the sword

Literature should be a bit detached from the current political situation, says Peruvian-Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who is hugely popular among Chinese readers for his ability to combine artistry with a reflection of the social reality. Mei Jia reports.

He's been called "teacher of Chinese writers" by literary critic Bai Ye. And he's caught the attention of Chinese readers as much for his works, as his legendary campaign for the presidency of Peru, and his much-publicized feud with fellow Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Peruvian-Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa was in Beijing recently at the invitation of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Cervantes Institute. Before his Beijing tour, where he gave a speech entitled A Writer's Testimony at a gathering of more than 1,000 students, diplomats, scholars, writers and literature lovers on June 17, he addressed students at the Shanghai International Studies University, which named him an honorary professor.

In Beijing, Bai told Vargas Llosa that he had no idea just how loved and well-known he is in China.