Prize-winning authors (from left) Liu Xinglong, Zhang Wei, Bi Feiyu, Mo Yan and Liu Zhenyun, and their prize-winning works are highlighted in the first edition of Pathlight. Photos provided to China Daily
 

Jan. 11, 2012 -- The first edition of Pathlight: New Chinese Writing shows the best of Chinese literature to the rest of the world, in the estimation of Chitralekha Basu.

This is a collector's item. And not just because of its obvious historical importance. The first edition of Pathlight: New Chinese Writing magazine is a metaphor of the cooperation between Chinese and Western agencies - in this case, the influential People's Literature magazine, edited by Li Jingze and the Paper Republic team, helmed by Eric Abrahamsen - to showcase Chinese literature to the rest of the world. What an absolute gem this slender 160-page volume is, in terms of the range of voices it covers, some of them translated for the first time. Kudos to the translators for bringing out the varied textures, emotions, cadences and even the visual appeal in some of the lines penned by the featured Chinese writers represent.