Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
Chief News Editor
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, bestselling author Rebecca (R.F.) Kuang visited the Prior Performing Arts Center as part of the Working Writers Series, hosted by the College’s Creative Writing Department. The event featured a reading from Kuang’s upcoming novel, followed by a question-and-answer session in which she discussed her writing process, character development, and the role of historical themes in fiction.
The Working Writers Series brings established writers to campus to discuss their work and experiences with students and members of the College community. Kuang’s visit included an opportunity for attendees to hear an excerpt from her upcoming, unreleased work and ask questions about beginning her career as an author.
Kuang, the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Poppy War trilogy, Babel, or the Necessity of Violence, Yellowface, Katabasis, and her newest novel, The Taipei Story, is the newest addition to the Holy Cross English Department. This year, she was named the first-ever Millard Distinguished Writer in Residence at Holy Cross. Kuang will teach two courses at the College during the upcoming semester: English 142 – Introduction to Creative Writing: Narrative and English 299-S10 – Speculative Fiction. Students are eligible to register for these courses during their designated enrollment periods.
During the event, Kuang read a chapter from her upcoming, untitled Faust-inspired fantasy novel. Rather than featuring the traditional fantasy trope of a supernatural demon, the novel embodies the concept of the “devil” through the rising spread of fascist ideologies beginning in the late 19th century. The story follows five main characters across five distinct timelines and countries throughout the 20th century. The excerpt read spanned the Franco-Prussian War.
The reading introduced the new novel’s characters and historical setting. Before beginning, Kuang discussed the five different timelines that influenced the relationship between the fictional characters and the historical events that inform the story.
When asked about her writing process, Kuang joked, “Like Nike, just do it.” She explained that for her, writing requires significant focus and discipline. She dedicates her entire morning to her work. Kuang emphasized the mental as well as emotional demands of writing, noting it requires an immense amount of focus to keep imaginary communities in her head.
An audience member followed up by asking Kuang how she balances her characters’ development with immensely complex historical themes, including colonialism, racism, and grief. Before becoming an author, Kuang attended Georgetown University, where she studied history. She explained that her academic background in history influences the way she approaches historical subjects in her novels.
Kuang described her approach to these topics through the experiences of the individuals who lived through them as “everything in history is embodied through the people who experienced it; everything is lived”.
She explained to the audience that she personally prefers to explore historical subjects through the everyday lived experiences of her characters rather than presenting them through abstract academic writing. Kuang believes that readers are more engaged when following characters as they navigate ordinary responsibilities, relationships, and personal ambitions while larger historical events unfold in the foreground. Audience members connect to their experiences and compare them with their own.
Using her upcoming novel as an example, Kuang discussed how its characters are primarily attentive to their individual ambitions rather than constantly considering the broader political developments taking place around them. She described one character who is focused on his music career, despite the political circumstances surrounding him during the Franco-Prussian War.
The evening concluded with Kuang signing books for audience members. Students and other attendees gathered following the discussion to meet the author and have their copies of their favorite Kuang books signed.
Image courtesy of Authors Unbound
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