Gish Jen is widely recognized as an important American author and is also one of the best-known contemporary Asian American authors. She has published five novels, two short story collections and two non-fiction books. Her writing style is humorous, but her fiction contains dark and questioning undercurrents.
Jen was born in 1955 on Long Island and raised in Queens, Yonkers, and Scarsdale. Her parents, who descended from very wealthy families in China, immigrated to the United States
Jen was born in 1955 on Long Island and raised in Queens, Yonkers, and Scarsdale. Her parents, who descended from very wealthy families in China, immigrated to the United States
in the 1940s. Jen’s mother was a school teacher and her father a professor of civil engineering. Originally named Lillian, Jen
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Citation: Ahokas, Pirjo. "Gish Jen". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 August 2011; last revised 02 May 2024. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12935, accessed 21 November 2024.]