The Wounded Muse

Qiang returns to Beijing from Silicon Valley as the city prepares for the 2008 Olympics. The demolition of neighborhoods inspires him to document the loss of affordable housing, drawing the attention of public security officials. When Qiang is arrested, his friend Jake, an American journalist, tries to help.

Drawn into a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities, Jake enlists Dawei, a Chinese itinerant, to retrieve a valuable memento. As their lives intertwine, Jake must decide who survives in a city undergoing a massive transformation. The Wounded Muse explores psychological extremes in a world of forgotten communities and shifting allegiances. For readers of contemporary fiction, Chinese history, and political thrillers.