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Chinese-American author Shawn Wong will give a public talk at Western Washington University on Thursday, May 26 at 4 p.m. in Bond Hall 109. The talk, which is sponsored by the Cold Beverage Fund and the English Department, is free and open to the general public.

Wong is the author of the novels “American Knees” and “Homebase.” He will discuss his books and show clips from the recent film “American Knees,” based on his novel.

Wong is also professor of English at the University of Washington and former chair of the UW English Department. He is also the editor of numerous anthologies and numerous articles. His novels are noted for their frank depiction of sexual and racial themes, sometimes regarded as taboo.

Later that evening, at 7 p.m. at the Rotunda Room of the Whatcom Museum, Wong will also briefly speak about the ballet “Emerald Bay,” a love story set in Fairhaven about a Chinese sea captain and a Scots-Irish girl. The story takes place in 1885, during the time of the Chinese Expulsion from the Puget Sound region. Wong will comment on the ballet and the historical events surrounding it.

The event at the Whatcom Museum, entitled “Emerald Bay and the Chinese Expulsion: 125 Years Later,” is also free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Whatcom Museum, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the English Department, the Cold Beverage Fund, Northwest Ballet, the Old Fairhaven Association, and the Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Project.

For further information, contact Christopher Wise at Christopher.Wise@wwu.edu or 650-3237.