Drugs for the mind

In the eyes of the Chinese authorities books are too often Drugs for the Mind. Sofie Sun (1986) chose this remarkable description as the title of her investigation into censorship and literature in the People's Republic of China. She interviewed representatives of three groups of authors who each have their own view about censorship: writers with no official status living and working in the People's Republic of China, writers in exile, and those who are members of the Chinese Writers Association. By telling the stories about these writers, she sketches a portrayal of censorship and self-censorship in the People's Republic of China. Sofie Sun was born in the People's Republic of China and came to the Netherlands in 2007, where she has lived ever since. She holds a BA and an MA in Dutch literature from Leiden University. She has translated a range of Dutch titles into Chinese. She will soon complete and defend her doctoral dissertation 'Dutch literature in Chinese translation, 1961-2010'. A publication of the Eva Tas Foundation. The Eva Tas Foundation encourages publication and promotion of texts that are, no matter where and no matter how, subject to censorship.