Gish Jen is widely recognized as an important American author and is also one of the best-known contemporary Asian American authors. She has published five novels, two short story collections and two non-fiction books. Her writing style is humorous, but her fiction contains dark and questioning undercurrents.

Jen was born in 1955 on Long Island and raised in Queens, Yonkers, and Scarsdale. Her parents, who descended from very wealthy families in China, immigrated to the United States

Jen was born in 1955 on Long Island and raised in Queens, Yonkers, and Scarsdale. Her parents, who descended from very wealthy families in China, immigrated to the United States

 in the 1940s. Jen’s mother was a school teacher and her father a professor of civil engineering. Originally named Lillian, Jen

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Citation: Ahokas, Pirjo. "Gish Jen". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 August 2011; last revised 02 May 2024. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12935, accessed 04 December 2024.]

12935 Gish Jen 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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