Anna May Wong
Pasadena Heritage will host author Yunte Huang for a book reading and lecture about Hollywood’s first Chinese American film star, Anna May Wong, on May 22.
The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Blinn House, located at 160 N. Oakland Ave. Tickets are $30 for the in-person event.
Huang, a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Guggenheim Fellow, will discuss his recent book “Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History.” Published by Liveright in 2023, the book was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The book explores Wong’s legacy against the backdrop of 20th-century America and represents the third and final installment of Huang’s “Rendezvous with America” trilogy.
Wong, born Wong Liu Tsong, is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood and the first Chinese American actress to gain international recognition. Her career spanned silent film, sound film, television, stage and radio.
Huang’s previous works include “Charlie Chan,” which won the Edgar Award and was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, and “Inseparable,” also a finalist for the NBCC award. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune and other publications.
Tickets and additional information are available at https://playhousevillage.org/
