Xinran was born in Beijing in 1958 and was a successful journalist and radio presenter in China. In 1997 she moved to London, where she began work on her seminal book about Chinese women's lives, The Good Women of China. Since then she has written a regular column for the Guardian; appeared frequently on radio and TV and has published the acclaimed Sky Burial; the novel Miss Chopsticks; the groundbreaking book of oral history China Witness; a book of her Guardian columns called What the Chinese Don't Eat and Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother, about mothers and their lost daughters. She lives in London but travels regularly to China.

"This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller" -- Hilary Spurling Financial Times "Xinran rages against the system and gives voice to adoptive mothers overseas who have rescued young Chinese girls and desolate birth mothers who grieve and feel guilt for the loss of their daughters" -- Iain Finlayson The Times "One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved" Economist "No bleaker picture exists of the fate of Chinese female infants...than Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother" Spectator "Harrowing and heartbreaking yet important tales" SHE Magazine

Xinran was born in Beijing in 1958 and was a successful journalist and radio presenter in China. In 1997 she moved to London, where she began work on her seminal book about Chinese women's lives, The Good Women of China. Since then she has written a regular column for the Guardian; appeared frequently on radio and TV and has published the acclaimed Sky Burial; the novel Miss Chopsticks; the groundbreaking book of oral history China Witness; a book of her Guardian columns called What the Chinese Don't Eat and Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother, about mothers and their lost daughters. She lives in London but travels regularly to China.

"This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller" -- Hilary Spurling Financial Times "Xinran rages against the system and gives voice to adoptive mothers overseas who have rescued young Chinese girls and desolate birth mothers who grieve and feel guilt for the loss of their daughters" -- Iain Finlayson The Times "One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved" Economist "No bleaker picture exists of the fate of Chinese female infants...than Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother" Spectator "Harrowing and heartbreaking yet important tales" SHE Magazine

Xinran was born in Beijing in 1958 and was a successful journalist and radio presenter in China. In 1997 she moved to London, where she began work on her seminal book about Chinese women's lives, The Good Women of China. Since then she has written a regular column for the Guardian; appeared frequently on radio and TV and has published the acclaimed Sky Burial; the novel Miss Chopsticks; the groundbreaking book of oral history China Witness; a book of her Guardian columns called What the Chinese Don't Eat and Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother, about mothers and their lost daughters. She lives in London but travels regularly to China.

"This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller" -- Hilary Spurling Financial Times "Xinran rages against the system and gives voice to adoptive mothers overseas who have rescued young Chinese girls and desolate birth mothers who grieve and feel guilt for the loss of their daughters" -- Iain Finlayson The Times "One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved" Economist "No bleaker picture exists of the fate of Chinese female infants...than Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother" Spectator "Harrowing and heartbreaking yet important tales" SHE Magazine