Yiyun Li
- Born:
- November 4, 1972, Beijing, China
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
Early Life and Education
- Yiyun Li was born and raised in Beijing, China.
- She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular Biology from Peking University.
- In 1996, she moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies in immunology at the University of Rochester.
- Later, she attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop, graduating in 2002.
Career and Major Achievements
- Yiyun Li is recognized for her contributions to contemporary literature, exploring themes of loss, displacement, and the human condition.
- She has taught creative writing at Mills College and the University of California, Davis.
- She is currently a professor of creative writing at Princeton University.
- Awards include a PEN/Hemingway Award for her debut collection A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2005), a Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award for Gold Boy, Emerald Girl (2010), and a MacArthur Fellowship (2010).
- She was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 2012.
Notable Works
- A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2005) - Short Story Collection
- The Vagrants (2009) - Novel
- Gold Boy, Emerald Girl (2010) - Short Story Collection
- Kinder Than Solitude (2014) - Novel
- Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life (2017) - Memoir
- Where Reasons End (2019) - Novel
- Must I Go (2020) - Novel
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year | Work |
|---|---|---|
| PEN/Hemingway Award | 2005 | A Thousand Years of Good Prayers |
| Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award | 2010 | Gold Boy, Emerald Girl |
| MacArthur Fellowship | 2010 | N/A |
| Guggenheim Fellowship | 2012 | N/A |
Legacy and Impact
Yiyun Li's work has garnered critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of characters navigating personal and political turmoil. Her exploration of universal themes through the lens of Chinese and Chinese-American experiences has established her as a significant voice in contemporary literature. This brief summary of an Yiyun Li biography aims to encapsulate her essential contributions.