Can Xue Chinese writer Can Xue is known for her highly experimental works of fiction and her unconventional approach to literary criticism. She has published reviews of her own books as well as criticism of masters of the Western canon. (more) Can Xue Chinese writer Also known as: Deng Xiaohua Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 23, 2026 •History “I whole-heartedly detest writing to follow the crowd.” These are the words of Chinese writer Can Xue in a 2013 interview with the literary magazine Asymptote. At the time, she had already acquired a reputation as one of the most unique and challenging avant-garde authors in contemporary literature. American critic and novelist Susan Sontag had her as a likely future contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Since then Can’s renown has only grown with...

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