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The Life and Work of Li-Young Lee

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Li-Young Lee is an Asian-American poet with a rich family history, including a great-grandfather who was a Chinese emperor. His poetry, influenced by his family's experiences and Chinese literary traditions, explores themes of identity, family, and immigration. Lee's work has earned him numerous accolades, including the American Book Award, and he continues to be a vital voice in American literature.

The Early Life and Ancestry of Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee, a distinguished poet of Asian-American heritage, was born in 1957 in Jakarta, Indonesia. His family history is notable, with his maternal great-grandfather being Yuan Shikai, an influential figure in early 20th-century China who briefly became the self-proclaimed emperor after serving as the Republic of China's first president. Lee's father, who had been Mao Zedong's personal physician, held Christian beliefs and favored Western ideologies, which eventually led to the family's exile following the establishment of the Communist regime in China. The Lee family faced numerous adversities, including the imprisonment of Lee's father in Indonesia due to prevailing anti-Chinese sentiment during Sukarno's presidency. After a perilous escape and a period of statelessness that took them through Macau, Hong Kong, and Japan, the family immigrated to the United States in 1964. They settled in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, where Li-Young Lee's father took up the position of a Presbyterian minister.
Serene home study with a wooden desk, open book, black fountain pen, and a window overlooking a garden, beside a bookshelf and a cozy armchair with a throw blanket.

The Poetic Development of Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee's journey into poetry was cultivated during his higher education at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was mentored by the esteemed poet Gerald Stern. Stern's mentorship was pivotal, as evidenced by his introduction to Lee's debut collection, "Rose," which was published in 1986. The poet's father had a profound influence on his literary growth, often reading to him and fostering a love for language from a young age. This foundation, coupled with Lee's later study of Classical Chinese poets such as Tu Fu and Li Bai, contributed to the development of his distinctive poetic voice. Lee's work, which seamlessly blends personal reflection with universal themes, has garnered critical acclaim and several awards, including the American Book Award, the William Carlos Williams Award, and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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00

In ______, the poet of Asian-American descent, Li-Young Lee, was born in the city of ______.

1957

Jakarta

01

Due to his Christian faith and preference for Western ideals, Li-Young Lee's father faced exile after the rise of the ______ regime in China.

Communist

02

After overcoming many hardships and a period of being without a country, Li-Young Lee's family settled in the United States in ______, specifically in ______, Pennsylvania.

1964

Vandergrift

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