Bestselling author faces backlash over Israeli character in upcoming novel

Bestselling author R.F. Kuang is facing criticism online after early excerpts from her forthcoming novel Taipei Story included a brief reference to an Israeli character, prompting debate among readers and commentators on social media.

Kuang, the Chinese American writer of Yellowface and Babel, has previously expressed support for boycott campaigns linked to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and has taken part in cultural boycotts aligned with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In December, she withdrew from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai, citing support for a boycott call relating to the UAE. She has also contributed to pro-Palestinian literary fundraising initiatives.

The controversy centres on a short passage in Taipei Story, due for release in September, which describes an Israeli pianist performing at a concert hall in Taiwan. The character is introduced as an internationally established musician making his first appearance in the country.

Following the circulation of advance excerpts, some users on platforms including TikTok accused Kuang of “normalising” Israelis in literature, with criticism focusing on the inclusion of the character rather than the broader narrative context.

One online commenter said the portrayal risked “normalising a genocidal apartheid state”, while others suggested alternative ways of depicting political themes in fiction.

The response has prompted a counter-reaction from some writers and commentators, who defended the inclusion of diverse national identities in literature.

Jewish American author Jean Meltzer said fictional work should be able to reflect political and cultural complexity. “Stories are supposed to reflect the full complexity of the world we live in,” she said in comments shared online, adding that real-world identities should not be excluded from fiction.

Meltzer also referenced past criticism of her own work, saying she had faced coordinated online attacks over references to Israel in her novels.

Kuang’s publisher has not commented publicly on the controversy. The novel is scheduled for publication in September.

By Aghakazim Guliyev