The literal meaning of the Chinese characters for revolution is elimination of life

I believe that the power of literature is stronger than the power of tyranny.

I left Beijing in 1987, shortly before my books were banned there, but have returned continually.

The Beijing Olympics represent China's grand entrance onto the world stage and confirmation of its new superpower status.

I wanted to analyse and understand how the Chinese people could have their lives so crushed by fear.

In 1989, I was on Tiananmen Square with the students, living in their makeshift tents and joining their jubilant singing of the Internationale. In the two decades since, each time that I have gone back, visions from those days seem to return with increasing persistence.

In February of this year I returned to China to research my next book. The authorities know about the novels of mine that have been published in the west, including the latest one, Beijing Coma, about a student shot in Tiananmen Square, but so far have allowed me to return.