Maxine Hong Kingston

Chinese American author · United States · Academics · Born 1940 · age 85

Maxine Hong Kingston is read about 78 times a day, in 20 languages.

Counted to June 15, 2026, not since.

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare Claim

Maxine Hong Kingston is an American novelist. She is a professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated in 1962 with a B.A. degree in English. Kingston has written three novels and several works of non-fiction about the experiences of Chinese Americans.

A life in dates

2016“Remember when the narrator is bullying the other girl? She says to her, “Just say ‘ow.’ Just say anything, just make a sound.” I guess that’s the first step: make a sound.”In their words22 December 2016On a writer finding their voiceRead the whole statement

“I think that individual voices are not as strong as a community of voices. If we can make a community of voices, then we can speak more truth.”In their words22 December 2016On the strength of a communityRead the whole statement

2013National Medal of ArtsAward2011“Joy and life exist nowhere but the present.”In their wordsI Love a Broad Margin To My Life (2011), p.113, Random HouseRead the whole statement

2008Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American LettersAward2007“I feel that it's part of my work as an artist, a creator, a human being, is to integrate and to be more inclusive and to define American as large and not as exclusive. (2007)”In their wordsRead the whole statement

2006Asian American Literary AwardsAward2003“If a woman is going to write a Book of Peace, it is given her to know devastation. ("Fire" opening line)”In their wordsThe Fifth Book of Peace (2003)Read the whole statement

“The images of peace are ephemeral. The language of peace is subtle.”In their wordsThe Fifth Book of Peace (2003)Read the whole statement

1998Dos Passos PrizeAward1997National Humanities MedalAward1982Guggenheim FellowshipAward1981National Book AwardAward1978Anisfield-Wolf Book AwardsAward1976National Book Critics Circle Award in NonfictionAward1940Born27 October 1940

Also in Deutsch

Photos 2

Kingston c. 1976

In their own words 10

Maxine Hong Kingston

10 statements, newest first

When I was writing The Woman Warrior, I felt that I was writing something completely different; that nothing like it had ever been written.
Dec 22, 2016, On how she initially didn’t want to publish The Woman Warrior, Own words
Remember when the narrator is bullying the other girl? She says to her, “Just say ‘ow.’ Just say anything, just make a sound.” I guess that’s the first step: make a sound.
Dec 22, 2016, On a writer finding their voice, Own words
Writing is an act of nonviolence, but it’s very active, very aggressive, but you’re not setting off bombs or guns. Just using the pen.
Dec 22, 2016, On how writing is both nonviolent and aggressive, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

National Medal of Arts2013

Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters2008

Asian American Literary Awards2006

Dos Passos Prize1998

National Humanities Medal1997

Guggenheim Fellowship1982

National Book Award1981

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards1978

National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction1976

Honorary doctor of Brandeis University

In common with Maxine

Judy BlumeBoth received Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

Ruth OzekiBoth received Dos Passos Prize

mi tió tilinBoth received Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Suzanne FarrellBoth received honorary doctor of Brandeis University Michael DorrisBoth received National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction

John Lewis GaddisBoth received National Humanities Medal

About this person

Country

United States