Making China more accessible to the West has long been the goal of US-based Sinologist Michael Berry. The 36-year-old Chinese literature translator, author and lecturer recently sat down with the Global Times in Beijing to talk about his passion.

Michael Berry [Global Times]

 

"There are themes that appeal to all readers whether in China or abroad," Berry told the Global Times. "I would like to work as serving as a bridge to help bring Chinese literature to the West."

Berry said that he has watched thousands and thousands of Chinese films and usually buys and reads as many Chinese novels as he can carry out of bookstores with two hands.

"Generally speaking, many Westerners know little about Chinese literature. The situation has been improved through translated works in the past few years, but still more understanding needs to be built," he said.

Working as an associate professor in contemporary Chinese cultural studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Berry has translated several Chinese novels into English, including works by renowned Chinese novelists Wang Anyi, Yu Hua and Zhang Dachun. He has also written three books about Chinese cinema and is working on his fourth.

Berry's fascination with China began 17 years ago when he came to study in Nanjing for a year. He then earned a scholarship to further his education in Taiwan for another year, during which he learned to read and write traditional Chinese.

Berry began translating Chinese works into English when he was about to graduate from Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1997. Instead of getting a normal summer job, he decided to turn his attention to what he enjoyed doing.

"(I thought) maybe translating a novel would be somewhere I could use my skills that I had and make some contribution," he said.

He contacted best-selling Chinese author Yu Hua, writer of To Live and the first Chinese writer to have received the James Joyce Award, presented for outstanding success in the recipient's given field.