Frances Wood

I studied Chinese for four years at Cambridge, 1967-1971. I took papers in Chinese art and archaeology and wanted to work in a museum but always failed to get a job! I did not manage to find a job in which I could use Chinese for about a year after graduating when I was appointed to a junior post in the Chinese section in the Library at SOAS. The only 'perk' was being able to attend SOAS courses (I did first year Japanese twice) and to begin a part-time PhD in Chinese architecture. In 1977, after spending a year as a rather elderly British Council student in China, I moved to the Chinese section of the British Library where I've been ever since. The language is essential for cataloguing but also for the stream of academic visitors we have, since Chinese Dunhuang specialists tend not to know English. I've found that the language has also been a wonderful way in to Chinese history and culture and I have greatly enjoyed writing books in which I hope I manage to introduce these to a European audience.