Danmei Author Priest Nominated for 2027 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature

Priest is one of five finalists for the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature.

Priest has been nominated by University of Cambridge’s Associate Professor in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture Heather Inwood for the 2027 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature. She, along with the four other finalists which include Fang Fang, Su Tong, Wu Ming-Yi, and Zhang Yueran, will need to wait until 2027 to hear who won the top prize.

While Priest is known for her danmei, she’s an extremely prolific Internet novelist and her works have spanned numerous and diverse genres such as steampunk, wuxia, historical, crime fiction, and fantasy. She has written more than 30 novels and six short stories with many of her stories touching on themes that pertain to humanity and human nature and poses ethical and philosophical quesitons. Several of her works have been translated into English which includes Silent Reading, Stars of Chaos, Guardian, The Defectives and several others have been adapted into live-action dramas and donghua which include Faraway Wanderers, You Fei, and Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire.

Many of Priet’s works have been recognized such as The Defectives being award “Best Original Work” at the Chinese Science Fiction Galaxy Aards in 2019, Mo Du for the “Most Popular Work” at the Chinese Original Fiction Awards in 2018, and You Fei for the Bronze Award at the 2nd Network Literature Biennial Award. Starting in 2010, she has won awards almost every year at the Jinjiang Literature City Awards.

Awarded biennially, the Newman Prize is the one of the leading international awards for Chinese-language works and recognizes works that “illuminate the human condition.” Winners will receive $10,000 USD and will be invited to attend the University of Oklahoma for the Newman Prize award ceremony and associated academic events

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Source: National Dong Hwa University and Facebook