Yesterday I mentioned the democracy activist Zha Jianguo, who served nine years in prison for “subverting the state,” charges comparable to those lodged against Liu Xiaobo, winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. While Zha was in prison, his sister, the author Jianying Zha, wrote a piece for The New Yorker about her brother’s experience. She explored the undeniable fact that most Chinese people had never heard of her brother and his political activities, even as he continued to believe that his work was worth the punishment. A little over a year after her essay appeared, on June 28, 2008, Zha was released from prison, having completed his term. Today, Jianying Zha sent us this update on his life since leaving prison. (An expanded version appears in her upcoming book, “Tide Players.”)
Evan Osnos is a staff writer at The New Yorker. His most recent book is “Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury.”
Daily
Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts.