Currently, only excerpts of the Nobel laureate’s works have been translated into Russian. The Russian Union of Writers was trying to approach owners of Mo Yan’s books and buy the rights for their publication in Russia.

    A LIMITED number of 100 volumes of a new book by Nobel laureate Mo Yan, a collection of three plays, hit the Beijing market yesterday.

    The book “Our Jing Ke” is published by the New World Press. According to Chen Liming, board chairman of Beijing Genuine & Profound Culture Development Company, New World Press is the only authorized publishing company of the new book on the Chinese mainland.

    Three plays, “Our Jing Ke,” “Farewell My Concubine” and “Wife of the Boiler Worker,” are included in the book.

    On Oct. 12, Chen said the play “Our Jing Ke” tells the story of Jing Ke, an assassin famous for his failed attempt to kill a king who later became China’s first emperor nearly 2,000 years ago. The story is told from new perspectives.

    “In the play, Jing Ke’s assassination attempt is interpreted as a result of his desire for instant fame, rather than a result of chivalry and altruism,” Chen said.

    Chen said a new anthology of Mo’s works, a combination of his novels and essays, will be published at the end of the month.

    The publication of Mo’s work comes amid a growing craze after the novelist became the first Chinese national to win the Nobel Literature Prize on Oct. 11.

    The buying spree of Mo’s books has left bookshops in Chinese cities with empty shelves.

    Zhang Xuanyang, a publisher with the Beijing Genuine & Profound Culture Development Company, said more than 20 companies have contacted him to discuss the adaption of Mo’s works into films since his success was announced.

    “Over 10 telecom companies and network operators are in contact with us for the electronic copyright of Mo’s works,” he said.

    Mo’s books would meet Russian readers next September, according to Alexander Shepetina, vice president of the Russian Union of Writers.

    Shepetina, who was attending the International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, told Itar-Tass news agency via phone that Mo’s books would be introduced to Russia for the first time at the 26th Moscow International Book Fair slated for next September.

    Currently, only excerpts of the Nobel laureate’s works have been translated into Russian. The Russian Union of Writers was trying to approach owners of Mo’s books and buy the rights for their publication in Russia, Shepetina said.

    After signing contracts with Chinese partners, Russian publishers would translate Mo’s books and bring them to Russian readers, Shepetina said, adding it would be “a great discovery for all of us.”

    (SD-Agencies)