It was an exciting day for Xu Zhimo, the Crescent Moon Society, and Chasing the Modern at UCLA today. The crowds turned up to the Crescent Moon Symposium to hear Tony Hsu, Professor K.K. Cheung, Professor Michelle Yeh, Susan Chan Egan and author Sasha Su-ling Welland. This knowledgeable group spoke about Xu Zhimo's life and poetry, his great friendships with the Crescent Moon Society members and the Bloomsbury Group, and the tumultuous and fascinating period in China and the U.K. in which he lived.
When it was Tony's turn at the podium, he spoke about the many journeys he took to discover who his grandfather truly was—a speech that seemed to surprise as well as inform. "I felt I understood Xu Zhimo so much more deeply after Tony's talk," one audience member remarked. "It was very moving to hear how a grandson searched the world over to get to know his mysterious poet grandfather."
Here's a peek at the Crescent Moon festivities:
Tony Hsu's recounting of Xu Zhimo's Journey—and his own and he endeavored to understand his grandfather—moved audience members.
Tony Hsu with symposium co-organizers Dr. K.K. Cheung and Dr. Michael Berry.
Xu Zhimo aficionados sought out photo ops.
Tony holds a copy of the new Chinese translation of Chasing the Modern, published by CITIC, next to his wife, Lily, and daughter, Alle.