BOOK LAUNCH | Introducing Voices: Hong Kong Literary Review Debuts at HKILF

Speaker: Xu Xi and Maria Chaudhuri

Date: March 5, Thu

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Venue: HKU Black Box

Address: HKU Black Box, Room 54, LG/F, Centennial Campus

Price: FREE

Language: English

Format: Book Launch

Description: Be there for the launch of Hong Kong Literary Review, a premier new journal of bold, original writing from Hong Kong and beyond. The inaugural issue, Voices, spotlights a generation reimagining the art of storytelling in an AI-transformed era. Editor-in-Chief Maria Chaudhuri opens the evening, and renowned author Xu Xi delivers a dynamic talk on why literary journals matter—for writers, readers, and the collective consciousness. A Q&A and reception follow.

*Presented by the HKU School of English, in collaboration with The Guild and the English Society, as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2026.

About the Speaker:

Xi Xu

Xu Xi is an Indonesian-Chinese-American from Hong Kong. She has published sixteen books— five novels, nine prose collections, one memoir, one co-authored textbook—and also edited four anthologies of English Hong Kong literature. She held the Jenks Chair in Contemporary Letters at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, was writer-in-residence at Arizona State University, City University of Hong Kong, University of Iowa, and directed two international MFA’s. Earlier, she held management positions at The Asian Wall Street Journal, Federal Express, Pinkerton’s. A diehard transnational, she now lives between New York and the rest of the world.

Maria Chaudhuri

Maria Chaudhuri is an acclaimed author whose debut memoir, Beloved Strangers (Bloomsbury, 2014), has been hailed by Vogue as one of the “Top Ten Books to Look Out For” and named by Reader’s Digest among the “17 Memoirs Everyone Should Read.” In 2025, it won the Memoir Magazine Prize in the Culture category. Her second book, Nobo Opens a Door (2023), invites young readers into worlds of cross-cultural discovery and imagination. Based in Hong Kong, she teaches Creative Writing in the MFA and MACC programs at Hong Kong University and is currently at work on her third book.

Don’t miss our special offer: Buy 3, Get 1 Complimentary!

Purchase 3 tickets to any events under HKILF 2026 and claim a complimentary seat at one of these exciting talks at Central Library:

•⁠ 3rd March (Tue): On Muscle: The Stuff that Moves Us and Why It Matters (7:00-8:30pm)

⁠•⁠ 4th March (Wed): I Deliver Parcels in Beijing (7:00-8:30pm)

•⁠ ⁠5th March (Thu): Amitav Ghosh: Ghost-Eye (7:00-8:30pm)

To redeem your complimentary seat, email us at [email protected] with:

•⁠ ⁠Your 3 ticket order numbers

•⁠ ⁠The event you’d like to attend

•⁠ ⁠Subject line: Buy 3, Get 1 Complimentary!

Hurry! Offer valid until ticket lasts

Become a to gain exclusive access to HKILF events. All donations are tax deductible.

ABOUT HKILF

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) inspires the joy of reading by bringing the world’s writers and stories to Hong Kong’s diverse communities. A dynamic year-round programme and an annual festival offer dialogue, entertainment and perspective, while the Young Readers Festival (YRF) motivates students to engage with all aspects of the written word, improving communication skills, while nurturing the art of writing and storytelling.

The annual festival features established and emerging writers from around the world, alongside local literary talents, in a programme that includes panel discussions, book talks, readings, workshops, walks, school programmes, performances, and more.

We are a registered charity non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing the best in the literary arts to Hong Kong. To find more, please visit our official website: https://www.festival.org.hk.

Please note that:

*We are unable to process refunds, please consider your ticket purchase a donation to the festival.

*Photos and videos of participants may be taken during the activities,which may be used by the organiser and the major sponsor for educational and promotional purposes in any way deemed appropriate, including disseminationthrough printed and online channels. Participation in the programme will constitute the participants’ consent to the above arrangement.

*The views and opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hong Kong International Literary Festival. HKILF disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information shared by the speakers.

*If the Black Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 or above is in force 3 hours before the start time of an event, the event will be cancelled and participants will receive a refund. If the Red or Yellow Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 3 is in effect, the event will be held as scheduled.

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