Dates & times
All times are local to the venue · America/New York
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo discuss MASTERS OF SLEEP at Bird in Hand
An invention without a practical purpose can still raise a compelling question: what makes it valuable? That is one of the ideas framing An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP, a free conversation at Bird in Hand Coffee & Books on November 6, 2026.
Ideas in another language
Zhu Yue wrote MASTERS OF SLEEP in Chinese, and the evening centers on its new translation. Jianan Qian, one of the translators, joins writer Elizabeth DeMeo to discuss both the novel and the work of bringing its ideas into a different linguistic and cultural context.
Bird in Hand and Accent Editions frame the book as a playful interrogation of ideals associated with the West. Alongside invention and utility, the discussion considers the relationship between physical existence and individuality, and what people might sacrifice for wealth or greatness. For readers interested in translation, the conversation offers a way to consider how such ideas travel as well as what they ask of us.
Further reading: An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
The conversation
2026-11-06 · Bird in Hand Coffee & Books
- Jianan Qian in conversation with writer Elizabeth DeMeo about MASTERS OF SLEEP, its ideas and the translators’ work of bringing it into a new linguistic and cultural context.
Before you go
Free entry
Admission is free. Check with the organizers about whether advance registration is needed.
An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
Getting there
Bird in Hand Coffee & Books
The event is at 11 East 33rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Use the map link to calculate directions from your starting point.
An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
Before you make a plan
When is the MASTERS OF SLEEP conversation?
It is Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
Is there an admission charge?
Admission is free. Check with the organizers about advance registration.
An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
Who is taking part?
Jianan Qian, one of the novel’s translators, will be in conversation with writer Elizabeth DeMeo.
An Evening of Translation with Jianan Qian and Elizabeth DeMeo: MASTERS OF SLEEP | Visit Baltimore ↗
Location & Google Maps
Bird in Hand Coffee & Books
11 East 33rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.