Marilyn Chin: 2015 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Winner

In 2015, poet and activist Marilyn Chin received the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for her poetry collection Hard Love Province, a poignant and lyrical exploration of loss, identity, and cultural displacement. Known for her sharp wit, feminist perspective, and engagement with themes of immigration and diaspora, Chin’s work has been widely celebrated for its fusion of Eastern and Western literary traditions.

A Voice for the Immigrant Experience

Born in Hong Kong, Chin immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age, growing up in Portland, Oregon. Her experiences as an immigrant and the tensions between traditional Chinese values and American culture deeply shaped her poetry. She studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she honed her craft and developed a voice that seamlessly blends modern poetics with classical Chinese influences.

Chin has described her poetry as a space for reclaiming identity, particularly in how it addresses the Asian American experience, feminism, and language itself. Her work frequently challenges stereotypes and confronts historical injustices while maintaining a playful, sometimes satirical, tone.

The Power of Hard Love Province

Hard Love Province, the collection that earned her the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, is a deeply personal meditation on grief, exile, and longing. Written in the aftermath of her partner’s death, the poems navigate themes of loss while drawing from diverse influences, including Chinese poetry, European philosophy, and contemporary American culture.

The collection highlights Chin’s signature duality of tone—alternating between deep sorrow and biting humor—as she examines the complexities of love, cultural belonging, and memory. The poems range from elegiac verses mourning personal and collective loss to sharp critiques of the treatment of immigrants and marginalized communities.

A Legacy of Literary and Cultural Activism

Beyond her poetry, Chin has been a prominent educator and advocate for Asian American literature. She has taught at institutions like San Diego State University and has been a visiting writer at numerous universities around the world. Her impact extends beyond literature—she has worked to increase representation for Asian American writers and has been vocal about the need for more diverse voices in the publishing industry.

Her earlier works, including The Phoenix Gone, The Terrace Empty and Rhapsody in Plain Yellow, also showcase her ability to weave together history, personal experience, and cultural critique.

Why the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Matters

By awarding Chin in 2015, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognized not only her literary excellence but also her contributions to conversations about race, immigration, and belonging. Her poetry is a testament to the resilience and complexity of the immigrant experience, reflecting both personal pain and collective struggles.

For readers seeking poetry that is bold, thought-provoking, and rich in cultural insight, Hard Love Province stands as an essential collection, capturing Marilyn Chin’s unique ability to blend humor, sorrow, and lyrical brilliance.

FOR THE WRITERS

Marilyn Chin