Xiaolu Guo is a novelist, memoirist and filmmaker. She was born in China and moved to London in 2002. Her first novel written in English, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (2007), was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. She was one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2013. Her memoir Once Upon a Time in the East won the National Book Critics Circle Award 2017 and was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award. Her most recent novel, Call Me Ishmaelle (2025), was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick. Her memoir My Battle of Hastings was first published in 2024. As well as writing, Xiaolu Guo has directed a dozen award-winning films, including How is Your Fish Today (Sundance Official Selection). Her feature She, a Chinese received the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Festival 2009 and her documentary We Went to Wonderland was selected for ND/NF Festival at the Museum of Modern Art. Guo is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She lives in London.

‘In this enchanting memoir, Guo travels across China looking for traces o the Tang dynasty and “its open cosmopolitan melting pot” . . . Guo’s approachable prose belies the depth of emotion she brings to reckoning with the erasure of Chinese history during the Cultural Revolution, and her blend of reportage and history is seamless. This is a powerful testament to connecting with one’s roots.’

Xiaolu Guo is a novelist, memoirist and filmmaker. She was born in China and moved to London in 2002. Her first novel written in English, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (2007), was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. She was one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2013. Her memoir Once Upon a Time in the East won the National Book Critics Circle Award 2017 and was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award. Her most recent novel, Call Me Ishmaelle (2025), was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick. Her memoir My Battle of Hastings was first published in 2024. As well as writing, Xiaolu Guo has directed a dozen award-winning films, including How is Your Fish Today (Sundance Official Selection). Her feature She, a Chinese received the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Festival 2009 and her documentary We Went to Wonderland was selected for ND/NF Festival at the Museum of Modern Art. Guo is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She lives in London.

‘In this enchanting memoir, Guo travels across China looking for traces o the Tang dynasty and “its open cosmopolitan melting pot” . . . Guo’s approachable prose belies the depth of emotion she brings to reckoning with the erasure of Chinese history during the Cultural Revolution, and her blend of reportage and history is seamless. This is a powerful testament to connecting with one’s roots.’

Xiaolu Guo is a novelist, memoirist and filmmaker. She was born in China and moved to London in 2002. Her first novel written in English, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers (2007), was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. She was one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2013. Her memoir Once Upon a Time in the East won the National Book Critics Circle Award 2017 and was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award. Her most recent novel, Call Me Ishmaelle (2025), was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick. Her memoir My Battle of Hastings was first published in 2024. As well as writing, Xiaolu Guo has directed a dozen award-winning films, including How is Your Fish Today (Sundance Official Selection). Her feature She, a Chinese received the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Festival 2009 and her documentary We Went to Wonderland was selected for ND/NF Festival at the Museum of Modern Art. Guo is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She lives in London.

‘In this enchanting memoir, Guo travels across China looking for traces o the Tang dynasty and “its open cosmopolitan melting pot” . . . Guo’s approachable prose belies the depth of emotion she brings to reckoning with the erasure of Chinese history during the Cultural Revolution, and her blend of reportage and history is seamless. This is a powerful testament to connecting with one’s roots.’