Yan Lianke was born in 1958. One of China’s greatest living writers, he is the author of many novels and short story collections and has won China’s two top literary awards. Lianke is currently under heavy scrutiny from the Chinese authorities and is a living and working example of the battle to maintain creative integrity in contemporary China. Dream of Ding Village is his third book to be banned in Lianke’s home country, and is the second of his books to be published in Australia, following Serve the People!