Xuē Xīnrán (薛欣然, pen name Xinran, born in Beijing in 1958) is a British-Chinese journalist, author, speaker, and advocate for women's issues.

[3] First Military University of People's Liberation Army, 1983–1987;[4] English and International Relations[1] Xinran was born into a wealthy and privileged family on 19 July 1958.

It told the incredible true story of Shu Wen, whose husband joined the Chinese army only a few months after their marriage in the 1950s, and was sent to Tibet to try and unify the two cultures.

It explores the uneasy relationship between Chinese migrant workers and the cities they flock to, and how the country’s economic reforms have changed the role of so-called ‘chopstick girls’.

Once considered disposable, they now take city jobs as waitresses, masseuses, factory line workers and cleaners, and bring bundles of cash home.

The story tells the romantic journeys of four generations within one Chinese family, spanning a century marked by profound social change.

It is dedicated to the Xinran’s beloved husband Toby Eady, the renowned literary agent, who succumbed to bladder cancer on December 24 2017, after a brave three-year battle.

It tells the incredible story of a Chinese man through the secret letters he left to his wife and daughter, providing unique insight into the history of war, love, deceit, betrayal and political intrigue in China over the past century.

In 2018, Chinese anthropologist Deng Qiyao became attached to the project and began writing the text, which was translated into English by Will Spence and Fan Wu.

From 2019-2022, the book was brought together and designed by publishers Thames & Hudson in Australia/UK and Yilin Press in China, with Xinran serving as Executive Editor.