Amusing history: Hong Kong man’s quest to make the past trendy again and ignite youth interest in Chinese classics
- Writer Anthony Wong, 57, is on a mission to get young people interested in reading and writing, especially about China’s colourful past
- For his efforts, he has been nominated for the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards
Anthony Wong Jon is keen to promote reading and writing among young people, and to ensure future generations have some real fun in the process.
“The younger generation today do read. It’s just that they prefer something trendy and that they prefer to read on screen,” the 57-year-old writer said.
“It’s a bit difficult to tell them to read Chinese classic tomes, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”
Noting the declining interest in Chinese classics and history in Hong Kong, Wong decided to take action – he wrote a light-read series that provides a more relevant perspective on the country’s ancient past.
Titled Amusing History of 4,000 years, the books present alternative views, which are often substantiated by hitherto little-known facts or scholarly research, on China’s history and culture.
