📍 Victoria Library, London | 19 March 2025
📚 Hosted by The Mothers’ Bridge of Love, and supported by London Reading Club & LINKhome

In a rare and resonant encounter, celebrated Chinese author Xue Mo joined legendary publisher Christopher MacLehose and renowned literary scout Koukla MacLehose for a panel exploring how the stories of Western China can find their place—and power—on the global stage.

Moderated in an intimate, conversational style, the discussion delved into the challenges of translating deeply regional works across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Xue Mo spoke candidly about preserving the soul of his stories—rooted in the Gobi Desert, Daoist philosophy, and the resilience of desert women—while reaching new audiences. Christopher reflected on his experience introducing Chinese martial arts fiction to the English market, while Koukla offered insight into the complexities of scouting and selling rights across more than 20 countries.

Throughout, a central question emerged: How do we honour authenticity while making space for global resonance?

The audience, made up of writers, translators, publishers, and literature lovers, engaged in a lively Q&A. The shared message was clear: voices from China’s diverse regions matter—not only within China, but as part of world literature.

This event was part of MBL’s ongoing mission to celebrate cultural diversity and support emerging Chinese voices in the international literary landscape.