Classic French literature sets the scene

The researcher, who has also translated the works of Francoise Sagan, Claudel and Milan Kundera, among others, expresses hope for deepening Sino-French literary exchanges and that the younger generation of book editors and translators can introduce more quality French literature works to Chinese readers.

Jiang Xiao, lecturer at the School of Chinese Language and Literature of Beijing Normal University, talks about Chinese readers' decadeslong fascination for Marguerite Duras' works.

In 1985 and 1986, six versions of The Lover by Duras were published in China. Jiang views such long-term fascination as having reflected a generation of Chinese readers' imagination for modern life.