Interview: Cao Wenxuan: A non-typical children's literature writer

"I am a recognizable one among my peers, without a doubt, meanwhile I am not a typical children's literature writer," Cao Wenxuan, who is set to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award here on Saturday evening, portrayed himself in a way one can find hard to argue.

Cao has been in the spotlight since April when he was announced the winner for the 2016 top award of children's literature at Bologna Children's book fair in Italy. It was the first time that a Chinese writer was voted the winner by the panel of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).

"I start to feel somehow a little excitement, not only for myself, but for the recognition of Chinese literature as a whole," the 62-year-old literature professor in Peking University, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Cao sees himself as a writer, not for children in particular, but for upholding literary and aesthetical texture."While writing, I don't have a target reader in mind, perhaps in the sub consciousness there might be one. When writing begins, the target actually fades away."

Truthfully, some of his works, including the latest Dragonfly Eyes, have been awarded by mainstream literature journals in China and reviewed and commented by critics not specialized in children's literature.

"When it is published by a literature journal, it is for readers of adulthood; when it is done by a children's magazine, it is for the children as well," he explained.

"When children read my stories, they would not say this is not for me to read."

In his opinion, literature can be categorized, but irrelevant to readership.

However, Cao always chose a child's perspective to observe the world, which may be the reason most of his works were defined as children's literature. He insisted that the perspective of a child is a choice without struggle that satisfied his pursuit of aesthetics.

He is stubborn on a dialogue with children as an adult in his works, revealing a true world or real human condition to his readers regardless of age, refusing to sugarcoat the pains and miseries in life, but never giving up on reflecting on the precious qualities of humanity.

He would not agree with the"kneeling down" perspective in his writing, echoing his long standing belief that reading on tiptoe brings upmost pleasure.

His works raised some controversial comments by critics as some pointed out his deep rooted romantics in his works failed to exemplify a real world. Others say his ruthless reveal of vulnerabilities of life failed to reflect on a happy childhood.

Cao clarified that romantics is the basic color of his works though he would not to hide what life and humanity really are to his readers, of whom two thirds are children.

He attributed his award to his peers and his country as he deems himself as one of a few Chinese writers who shared the same view that aesthetics is the gene of literature and source of its charm.

He repeatedly stated that he has been writing stories that can only occur in China, a country that has undergone drastic changes for the last century offering inspirations in abundance to a writer.

"What a big fool you would make yourself of, if you turn away from this treasury,"he asserted, adding he was fortunate to be a writer with Chinese background.

"I think I simply offered a human story the IBBY panel never read before, and they decided to give me this award." Endit