Why Xiaolu Guo Writes in English

The memoirist Xiaolu Guo spoke at Asia Society on Wednesday about her perceptive new memoir on Cultural Revolution-era China, Nine Continents. Born and educated in China, Guo's best language remains Chinese. But, she explains, she chooses to write in English.

"It's my decision to write in my second language because I find I have much more freedom and choice," she said. "I can write without self-censorship."

"I speak and write in [only] broken English," she said. "And yet I feel so free."

Guo appeared in conversation with Asia Society Center on U.S.-China Relations Senior Fellow Isaac Stone Fish. Watch the complete video of Guo's appearance below: