"A wild, passionate and fearless American writer" (New York Times), Anchee Min is the author of Red Azalea, a memoir of growing up during the violent trauma of the Cultural Revolution, where Min spent time in a labor camp and was chosen for a lead role in a propagandist movie before the Mao communist regime collapsed. The book exists as “a powerful political as well as literary statement” (The New York Times Book Review). Min has since written six other works of historical fiction, including Becoming Madame Mao and Empress Orchid. Twenty years after the publication of Red Azalea, Min returns with the next chapter of her life story in The Cooked Seed, moving from the appalling deprivations of her birthplace to the sudden bounty of America, without language, money, or a clear path.

*Anchee Min gave a moving and impassioned multimedia presentation that included readings, film clips and music. Because some of the clips were without dialogue we have edited them from the presentation. Also note that the sound clarity is variable. We have left intact the music from the final clip because the music is so beautiful. View the final clip here: http://bit.ly/12qhcw4