Chiung Yao: what the novelist taught China about love and death

On a quiet afternoon in December, Chiung Yao, one of the most celebrated romance writers in the Chinese-speaking world, took her own life inside her Taipei home at the age of 86. Her body of work includes 65 novels, many of them adapted for film and television, exploring themes of romantic love, etiquette and tradition. Jiehao Chen, producer of “Drum Tower” and China researcher at The Economist, and Ann Wroe, our obituaries editor, examine Chiung Yao’s life and work. How did the author shape ideas of love and death in contemporary China? Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.