Huang Xiang is considered to be one of the greatest poets of twentieth century China. This is the first english edition of his autobiography. Huang Xiang spent twelve years in Chinese prisons, was tortured and put on death row twice for writing his free-spirited poetry and for his pioneering advocacy of human rights and democracy in communist China.



In 1978, his posting of big character posters in Tiananmen Square, criticizing the cultural revolution and Chairman Mao brought worldwide attention to human rights, democracy and freedom of speech issues in China. This is Huang Xiang's story in his words as he risks his life to create poetry, champion human rights and follow his dreams.



"POET ON FIRE inside Communist China" casts light on what it is like to be a dissident artist in China today.

-The Dalai Lama