A short life of the author
Wu Ming-Yi (b. 1971) was born in Taipei, Taiwan. He is a professor of Chinese literature at National Dong Hwa University and is also an artist and lepidopterist.
Life and Career
Fùyǎn rén (The Man with the Compound Eyes, 2011) — about an island of trash in the Pacific Ocean that crashes into the coast of Taiwan — is an ecological novel that blends Taiwanese indigenous mythology, environmental activism, and science fiction. It was his international breakthrough.
Dānchē shīqiè jì (The Stolen Bicycle, 2015) — about a man searching for his father’s stolen bicycle, uncovering the history of Taiwanese soldiers conscripted by Japan in World War II — was longlisted for the 2018 International Booker Prize.
Major Works and Themes
Wu writes about ecology, Taiwanese history, colonialism, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. His fiction is deeply committed to environmental activism.
Key Works
- The Man with the Compound Eyes (2011)
- The Stolen Bicycle (2015)
Collecting Wu
Chinese originals are the primary collected form. English translations (Harvill Secker, Pantheon) bring $10–$25. Wu Ming-Yi continues to publish.