We are thrilled to announce that this year's recipient of the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction is Ye Chun, for her novel Straw Dogs of the Universe (Catapult, 2023)! Join us for a reading followed by time for a Q&A and book signing with snacks and drinks on October 25th in Sloan Auditorium and Munnerlyn Atrium in Goergen Hall.
 

From the Kafka Committee:

Ye Chun's Straw Dogs of the Universe is a compelling historical narrative and a rich migration story that spans generations and intricately weaves together individual lives in 19th-century California. The novel follows poignant characters like 10-year-old Sixiang, sold to a human trafficker after a famine devastates her village in China, and who later travels across an unfamiliar landscape as she hopes to reunite her family. Ye explores the experiences of Chinese immigrants in the American West as they face the challenges of building railroads and adapting to a new life, offering an unforgettable portrait that reflects on themes of resilience, identity, and family.