The Centre for Macau Studies organized a special session on “Unveiling Macau History Through Stories: Destination Macao” on March 28, 2025 at the Cultural Building Lecture Hall. The lecture was delivered by the acclaimed British author, Paul French, and was moderated by Professor Lam Iok Fong, the director of the Centre for Macau Studies. The speaker captivated an audience of scholars, students, and literary enthusiasts with a talk on the creative process behind his latest work, Destination Macau.
French has often stepped into the shadowy corners of East Asian history. In line with his previous titles, Destination Peking and Destination Shanghai, French turned his attention to the unique allure of Macau for the third installment. During the lecture, he shared the novelty of his approach, blending historical rigor with narrative flair to reimagine the city’s past. By locating and reviewing international images of Macao in history, French sees the city not only as a crossroads of cultures, but also as a place of layers that demands a fresh lens to capture its essence. He also spoke of the challenges and delights of weaving archival discoveries into a compelling tale.
French’s reflections ranged from the practical – sourcing rare documents – to the philosophical, as he pondered how Macau’s identity as a global meeting point has been shaped by its portrayals in films and literatures on a wider scope. He emphasized on the interest in looking at Anglo-American media and their representation of Macao and trying to critique it. For French, the joy of writing this book lay in putting the historical research on the sensational journalism and uncovering details that defy the standard narrative.
Questions from the floor sparked lively exchanges, with attendees probing French’s methods and the broader craft of historical fiction. The event enriches the Centre’s ongoing programme of cultural and intellectual gatherings, underlining its role as a bridge between scholarship and the wider world.