Murong Xuecun (nom de plume of Hao Qun) is one of China's most famous authors. Through his novels and narrative non-fiction, he has been a rare independent voice writing from inside China. Murong's first novel, Leave Me Alone: A novel of Chengdu, took China by storm in 2002. His recent books include the novel Dancing Through Red Dust and the non-fiction People's Literature Prize winner The Missing Ingredient, a work of undercover investigative reporting on a pyramid scheme. Murong has also written for The New York Times since 2011, including an opinion column from 2013 to 2016.
'… reads like a message in a bottle from a secret state.' -Seven Carroll, Sydney Morning Herald 'People who are curious to know why China is so resistant to outside investigation should read this book.' - Anita Chan, The Conversation 'Deadly Quiet City is a heartfelt book about Chinese people by a Chinese writer' - Michael Smith, Australian Financial Review 'A harrowing snapshot of life in the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. . . . This is a masterful exposé.' - Publishers Weekly … reads like a message in a bottle from a secret state. -- Steven Carroll * Sydney Morning Herald * People who are curious to know why China is so resistant to outside investigation should read this book. -- Anita Chan * The Conversation * 'Deadly Quiet City is a heartfelt book about Chinese people by a Chinese writer' - Michael Smith, Australian Financial Review -- Michael Smith * Australian Financial Review * 'A harrowing snapshot of life in the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. . . . This is a masterful exposé.' - Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *