

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: CONVERSATION | Real Humans, Real Stories
- **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 08 Mar, 2026 at 11:00 am – Sun, 08 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm
- **Event Description**: Acclaimed writers Mark O'Neill and Susan Blumberg-Kason explore history that connected cities between the East and the West in their works.About this EventReal Humans, Real StoriesSpeakers: Mark O'Neill and Susan Blumberg-KasonModerator: Pete SpurrierDate: March 8, SunTime: 11:00am - 12:00pmVenue: Fringe Club - Fringe UndergroundAddress: Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd, Central, Hong KongPrice: HKD198Language: EnglishFormat: ConversationDescription:This event brings together two acclaimed non-fiction authors who uncover the human stories behind Asia’s modern history. Mark O’Neill draws on his research into European communities in Hong Kong, revealing the teachers, traders, and visionaries who helped forge the city’s diverse identity. Susan Blumberg-Kason, in Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon, tells the remarkable story of Bernardine Szold Fritz, a Jewish salon host who built bridges between Chinese artists and expatriates in 1930s Shanghai. Together, O’Neill and Blumberg-Kason explore migration, creativity, and cultural resilience across the cities that have long connected East and West.About the Speaker:Mark O'NeillMark O’Neill was born in London, England and educated at Marlborough College and New College, Oxford. He worked in Washington, DC, Manchester and Belfast before coming to Hong Kong in 1978. He has lived in Asia ever since. He worked as a journalist for 30 years here, in Taiwan, India, the PRC and Japan, for Reuters, SCMP and many other publications. Since 2006, he has been writing books on Chinese, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau history and society. He has completed 20 so far in English. Eight have been translated into traditional Chinese and three into simplified Chinese. He speaks French, Mandarin and Cantonese.Susan Blumberg-KasonSusan Blumberg-Kason is the author of Bernardine’s Shanghai Salon: The Story of the Doyenne of Old China, a 2023 Zibby Awards finalist for Best Book for the History Lover. She is also the author of Good Chinese Wife: A Love Affair with China Gone Wrong and the 2024 Zibby Awards winner, When Friends Come From Afar: The Remarkable Story of Bernie Wong and Chicago’s Chinese American Service League. She is the co-editor of Hong Kong Noir and a regular contributor to the Asian Review of Books, Cha: An Asian Literary Review and World Literature Today. Her work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and PopMatters.Don’t miss our special offer: Buy 3, Get  1  Complimentary!Purchase 3 tickets to any events under HKILF 2026 and claim a complimentary seat at one of these exciting talks at Central Library:•⁠ 3rd March (Tue): On Muscle: The Stuff that Moves Us and Why It Matters (7:00-8:30pm)⁠•⁠ 4th March (Wed): I Deliver Parcels in Beijing (7:00-8:30pm)•⁠ ⁠5th March (Thu): Amitav Ghosh: Ghost-Eye (7:00-8:30pm)To redeem your complimentary seat, email us at info@festival.org.hk with:•⁠ ⁠Your 3 ticket order numbers•⁠ ⁠The event you’d like to attend•⁠ ⁠Subject line: Buy 3, Get 1 Complimentary!Hurry! Offer valid until ticket lastsBecome a to gain exclusive access to HKILF events. All donations are tax deductible.ABOUT HKILFThe Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) inspires the joy of reading by bringing the world’s writers and stories to Hong Kong’s diverse communities. A dynamic year-round programme and an annual festival offer dialogue, entertainment and perspective, while the Young Readers Festival (YRF) motivates students to engage with all aspects of the written word, improving communication skills, while nurturing the art of writing and storytelling.The annual festival features established and emerging writers from around the world, alongside local literary talents, in a programme that includes panel discussions, book talks, readings, workshops, walks, school programmes, performances, and more.We are a registered charity non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing the best in the literary arts to Hong Kong. To find more, please visit our official website: https://www.festival.org.hk.Please note that:*We are unable to process refunds, please consider your ticket purchase a donation to the festival.*Photos and videos of participants may be taken during the activities,which may be used by the organiser and the major sponsor for educational and promotional purposes in any way deemed appropriate, including disseminationthrough printed and online channels. Participation in the programme will constitute the participants’ consent to the above arrangement.*The views and opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hong Kong International Literary Festival. HKILF disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information shared by the speakers.*If the Black Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 or above is in force 3 hours before the start time of an event, the event will be cancelled and participants will receive a refund. If the Red or Yellow Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 3 is in effect, the event will be held as scheduled.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/hong-kong/conversation-|-real-humans-real-stories/100001981554572067
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, festivals, nonprofit, charities, workshops, business, storytelling
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://consumer.pxf.io/c/1339408/3151484/39691?partnerpropertyid=1191892&MediaPartnerPropertyId=1191892&svlink=14105511&level=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Fconversation-real-humans-real-stories-tickets-1981554572067
- **Ticket Price Range**: min: 168.3, max: 198, currency: HKD

## Event venue details

- **city**: Hong Kong
- **state**: HK
- **country**: Hong Kong
- **location**: Fringe Club
- **lat**: 22.2803927
- **long**: 114.1559704
- **full address**: Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 10
- **organizer**: Hong Kong International Literary Festival (https://allevents.in/org/hong-kong-international-literary-festival/22863741)

## Event gallery

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- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/ff214c84ec88d4e748bb9a44be8bafe5c8c8d4b2a5477473fd5eb7e2f360eb6d-rimg-w400-h400-dc000000-gmir.jpg?v=1770132508

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Sun, 08 Mar, 2026 at 11:00 am
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- **Q**: What is the ticket price?
  - **A:** starting from 168.3 up to 198 HKD
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Hong Kong International Literary Festival
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** art, literary-art, festivals, nonprofit, charities, workshops, business, storytelling
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about CONVERSATION | Real Humans, Real Stories ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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