One of the most renowned writers in China during the 1930s, Xiao Hong published her first novel when she was only 24, and her talent was quickly recognized by Lu Xun, who wrote a preface for her work. This established her position in modern Chinese literature. She wrote many works, including novels, essays, and poetry. She died in Hong Kong in 1942 at the age of only 31.

Howard Goldblatt is a renowned Sinologist and translator, now teaching at the Department of East Asian Languages, University of Colorado at Boulder. He has translated many works of famous Chinese contemporary authors and has written a biography of Xiao Hong.