Ching-Fang Hu’s works of fiction and essays ponder the meaning of modernity in the context of urban life in China and around the world, defining a unique sensibility on the global city and contemporary life.  Born in Taipei, she has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and now divides her time between Tokyo and Paris.  Borders, identity, and globalization form the themes of her books “The Traveler” (2000) and “My Generation” (2010).  “The Sentimentalist” (2003) is a poetic dictionary of the modern condition, while “The Human Comedy” (2008) paints a picture of social change in diverse settings, from Paris to Hong Kong.  A graduate in theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in foreign literatures from National Taiwan University, Ms. Hu’s work has been published in China and Taiwan.  She is a regular columnist to different Chinese-language media in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and China.