"Poverty is a grain of sand in my eye, compelling me to see it with greater clarity." - "The Texture of Hard Times" by Bang Wang
The Texture of Hard Times:
An Observational Memoir of Life in the UK
Published by Dan Du in April 2022
It is one of the best sellers of nonfiction among the projects commissioned by independent publishing houses in 2022, China. It's an interdisciplinary essay collection and detailed documentation of my engagement with local communities and political parties, in which I attempt to explore how to rebuild my life in the UK. Through it, I aimed to ignite public discussion on what we can do to improve our lives as immigrants and as individuals with limited political influence, Or, what we can do to prevent ourselves from being disenfranchised and marginalized by the social elite on both the Left and the Right. This book unexpectedly gained popularity among Chinese intellectuals because it was written in Chinese with a plain language style. It was seen as an alternative window opening up for Chinese readers who are interested in democratic ways of thinking. It has become one of the best sellers of nonfiction among the projects commissioned by independent publishing houses in 2022, China. It had been reprinted nine times by Oct. 2023.
About the publishing house:
Dan Du publishing house, English name 'One-way Street', is a Beijing based company aims to put writers, film makers and intelligentsias worldwide in dialogue with Chinese counterparts. It established its physical store 16 years ago in Beijing city, a two stories bookshop sells all kinds of splendid books and translations that it can acquire under a strict censorship imposed by Chinese authority. Through this it has built up a stable and wide range of readerships across Mainland China and overseas. During these years it prospered and developed into an independent publishing house “Dan Du”. It has published various fictional & non-fictional work including transition work originally written by British writers such as Jan Carson, Ned Beauman, David Szalay, Kerry Hudson etc. Many of its books/journals are well received. It also owns several social media platforms and runs a literary award annually too, many eminent and emerging Chinese writers have received its awards in the past ten years.
Journey to Absence
Collection of short stories
Published by People's Literature Publishing House, possibly the oldest and one of the most prestigious literary publishers in China. It has been selected to the top ten fictional books of the month home and abroad by Searchlight, a writers’ platform created by Chinese literary critics, as well as the top ten Chinese fiction books of 2022 by Asia Weekly, a Chinese-language international affairs newsweekly based in HK, and it was also presented by the publishing house in London International Book Fair in 2023.
It’s a book deeply connected to dark romance, rebelliousness and resilience especially in women-hood besieged by a semi dystopian society. I wasn’t expected to be noticed by such a serious publisher, it was largely due to the endeavor of the young editors’ great efforts, especially Miss Gu Jian, the editor in charge.
The first edition has sold out its initial print run of 5,000 copies and that the second edition is on its way.
Big thanks to Nicky Harman, who has wonderfully translated some of the short stories, and has kindly written a book blurb, which reads:
Wang Bang’s stories are not just beautifully written, they have a unique voice (women’s voice). They are lyrical and moving, as well as imaginative and wryly humorous. And they cross cultural and geographical boundaries, taking us all over the world to show us the quirks and foibles of human nature, women’s struggle and self-reflection, as seen through a talented Chinese writer's eyes.
My escalator mentor Yvvette Edwards also kindly allowed me to cite one of her commentaries on my work, in which she says: “as a writer you have a unique voice, this can’t be taught. “ I sincerely hope I do. I will continue to write for a small segment of the audience who are like me, inherently low on social capital and self-esteem but naturally inquisitive, despite failure after failure, always striving to live life to the fullest.