Dai Qing is one of China’s most recognized journalists, authors and social activists. Born in 1941 in wartime Chongqing, Dai graduated in 1966 from Harbin Army Engineering College. She began publishing short stories in 1979 and three years later became responsible for the well-known “Interviews With Intellectuals” series for Guangming Daily. Dai was jailed for 10 months following the crackdown on protesters in Beijing in 1989, and was prohibited by the Chinese Communist Party from publishing any writings. From 1991 to 2007, Dai served as a visiting fellow at a number of universities overseas, including Harvard University, Columbia University and Australia National University.