Born in 1963 in Suzhou and now living in Beijing, Su Tong is one of China's most iconic bestselling authors, shooting to international fame in 1993 when Zhang Yimou's film of his novella collection Raise the Red Lantern was nominated for an Oscar. His first short story collection, Madwoman on the Bridge was published by Black Swan in 2008. The Boat to Redemption is his latest novel to become an instant phenomenon in China.