The Journey of Liu Xiaobo is a fitting tribute to Liu Xiaobo's memory and to his influence, which even after his death, continues to grow. In 2009 the Chinese government put Liu Xiaobo, a celebrated poet, essayist, critic, activist, and thinker, into a cage. He was labeled as "an enemy of the state," charged with "inciting subversion of state power," and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. His insistence on individual liberty in his own 1000+ essays and 18 books, his relentless pursuit of ideas, and his last statement to the Chinese court: "I have no enemies, no hatred," had threatened the Chinese Communist Party and government in a way few other citizens had. The Journey of Liu Xiaobo explores, analyses, and celebrates the life and legacy of Liu Xiaobo. The book presents a unique portrait of Liu Xiaobo from many who knew him during his life, from childhood to his final days. This collection of over eighty short essays and reflections are likely the largest gathering of writers from the Chinese Democracy Movement in one volume, and contribute basic texts to understanding the man who has been compared to Nelson Mandela, Vaclav Havel, and Aung San Sui Kyi in his importance to the development and progress of China toward a free society. These rich offerings from leading Chinese writers and intellectuals within and outside the mainland as well as from noted China scholars and journalists and political leaders around the globe present a personal as well as an intellectual portrait. Most of the texts were written at a seminal moment - in the days, weeks and months right after the death of Liu Xiaobo. The essays in the book are arranged by chronological focus: Youth and University Days, Tiananmen Square, Prison, Independent Chinese PEN Center, Charter 08, Nobel Peace Prize, Death ? and Beyond. The reader is treated to a trove of original and poignant memories as well as insightful analyses of China's history and the period in which Liu lived and an evaluation of Liu's impact on his times. AUTHORS: Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is a novelist, short story writer, and journalist. She is vice president emeritus of PEN International and served as chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee while Liu was imprisoned. Leedom-Ackerman later served as the International Secretary of PEN International in the same years Liu Xiaobo was president of the Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC). Yu Zhang is a Chinese citizen based in Sweden. As a scholar, editor, and translator, he is the coordinator of the ICPC's Writers in Prison and the Freedom to Write Committee and served as secretary-general of the ICPC during the years Liu was president of the center. Jie Li is a Chinese American librarian, editor of the Democratic China English website, and a former volunteer for the ICPC. Tienchi Martin-Liao is a Chinese German author, editor, and translator and the president of the ICPC. 20 photographs
