Diana Chang
Chinese American novelist and poet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diana Chang (Chinese: 張粲芳; 1924 – February 19, 2009) was a Chinese American novelist and poet.[1] She is best known for her novel The Frontiers of Love, one of the earliest novels by an Asian American woman. She is considered to be the first American-born Chinese to publish a novel in the United States.[2]
Diana Chang | |
|---|---|
Chang beside a Marc Chagall lithograph, c. 1951 | |
| Born | 1924 |
| Died | February 19, 2009 (aged 84–85) |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | Chinese, Japanese, American |
| Alma mater | Barnard College, Columbia University |
| Genre | Novel, poetry |
| Notable works | The Frontiers of Love |
 Literature portal | |
Early life
Chang was born in New York City to a Chinese father, Kuang Chi Chang, and Eurasian mother, Eva Mary Lee Wah Chang, and spent her youngest years in China, including Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai.[1][2] She attended high school in New York, and graduated cum laude from Barnard College in 1949 where she majored in English, focusing on British and American poets.[3] While an undergraduate at Barnard, Chang had 3 of her poems published by Poetry Magazine, including "At The Window."[1]
Career
After graduation, Chang worked as a book editor at three publishing houses: Avon Books, Bobbs-Merrill, A. A. Wyn).[1][4] She also worked as the editor for the PEN-sponsored journal American Pen and as a creative writing teacher at Barnard College.[2]
Literary work
Chang's best known work is The Frontiers of Love. Her work has more recently been read in terms of postmodernity and hybridity.[2] Although critical work on Chang has increased since the republication of Frontiers, critics have preferred to examine her Asian-themed works; her "white" novels are only recently getting attention.[2] While at Barnard College, Chang published her poem, Mood in Modern Poetry Association's Poetry.[3][5]
Personal life
Chang lived in Water Mill, NY with her husband David Hermann.[1]
She died on February 19, 2009.
Published works
Novels
- The Frontiers of Love, (1956, reissued 1974)
- A Woman of Thirty (1959)
- A Passion for Life (1961)
- The Only Game in Town (1963)
- Eye to Eye (1974)
- A Perfect Love (1978)
Poetry
- Saying Yes (Unknown)
- The Horizon is Definitely Speaking (1982)
- What Matisse is After (1984)
- Earth Water Light (1991)
Awards
- Fulbright
- John Hay Whitney Opportunity Fellowship
- Mademoiselle Magazine Woman-of-the-Year
