I Wanted To Analyse And Understand How

The Literal Meaning Of The Chinese Characters For Revolution Is Elimination Of Life

I Believe That The Power Of Literature Is Stronger Than The Power Of Tyranny.

In February Of This Year I Returned To China To Research My Next Book. The Authorities Know About The Novels Of Mine That Have Been Published In The West, Including The Latest One, Beijing Coma, About A Student Shot In Tiananmen Square, But So Far Have Allowed Me To Return.

I Left Beijing In 1987, Shortly Before My Books Were Banned There, But Have Returned Continually.

In 1989, I Was On Tiananmen Square With The Students, Living In Their Makeshift Tents And Joining Their Jubilant Singing Of The Internationale. In The Two Decades Since, Each Time That I Have Gone Back, Visions From Those Days Seem To Return With Increasing Persistence.