culture
Henan-born novelist whose works have been repeatedly banned on the mainland for their unsparing depictions of rural suffering: the AIDS tragedy in 《丁庄梦》 (Dream of Ding Village), political absurdity in 《为人民服务》 (Serve the People!), and a Chinese Lear-like collapse in 《日熄》 (The Day the Sun Died). Winner of the 2014 Franz Kafka Prize; long considered a Nobel contender.