Han Suyin: New light on her life story through literary criticism

Step into the world of Han Suyin like never before with Dr. Florence Kuek’s An Ethical Literary Criticism of Han Suyin’s Autobiography – Braving Irrationality. 

Discover how ethical dilemmas, questions of identity, and moments of radical choice reshape our understanding of one of the 20th century’s most compelling voices. This book talk will cover:

• London: Medical training for Han Suyin and readership for her A Many-Splendored Thing
• 20th century China, East-West, Eurasians
• Ethical literary criticism as methodology 
• The lost-head analogy in The Crippled Tree 
• Ethical identity: "To be" versus the "ought to be"
• Ethical choice and the issue of legitimacy
• Chinese consciousness: Salvation of China, salvation of "self"  

Followed by a Q&A session.

About the book

In Braving Irrationality, Dr. Kuek reads Han Suyin’s The Crippled Tree series against the backdrop of misogyny, racial prejudice, and political upheaval in 20th-century China. 

This critical study reveals how Han Suyin’s ethical choices and cultural positioning illuminate both personal and national struggles. An essential read for scholars, critics, and fans alike.

About the speaker

Florence Kuek is a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya whose research interests encompass literary criticism and translation studies. Her work on Han Suyin has produced several poignant articles, including: “An appeal for legitimacy: A reflection on the autobiographies of Pearl S. Buck and Han Suyin”, “Rosalie or not Rosalie: Han Suyin's ethical identity and ethical choices in the Crippled Tree Series”, and “Han Suyin’s “Picnic in Malaya”: A story – a lament on the unending misery of womanhood in the newly independent Malaya by a Chinese doctor.” 

In addition to her studies on Han Suyin, Kuek’s recent research extends to literary analyses and translation studies of the Chinese classic Honglou Meng (A Dream of Red Mansions), as well as a broad range of works within Malaysian Chinese literature.

About the moderator

Dr. Miranda Quinney is a freelance researcher and gerontologist with a deep passion for life stories. A trained oral historian and ambassador for Life Library—a digital platform dedicated to collecting and sharing life stories—Dr. Quinney is committed to ensuring that individual voices and experiences are recorded and celebrated. 

Centering on the elicitation, preservation, and communication of personal narratives, she applies reflective phenomenology as her research methodology.