author
Norman Hinsdale Pitman
1876–1925
An American teacher-turned-storyteller who spent much of his life in China, he helped introduce English-language readers to Chinese myths, folktales, and romance. His books carry the feel of a cultural bridge, shaped by lived experience as well as literary curiosity.
1 Audiobook
A Chinese Wonder Book
by Norman Hinsdale Pitman
About the author
Born in Lamont, Michigan, on June 12, 1876, he earned a Master of Arts from the University of Tennessee in 1897 and later built much of his career in China. Sources agree that he taught there in the early 20th century, including at Chihli Province College and later at Pei-Yang University in Tientsin (now Tianjin).
His writing is best remembered for bringing Chinese stories to English-speaking readers. Among the works reliably associated with him are Chinese Fairy Stories (1910), Chinese Playmates (1911), The Lady Elect (1913), A Chinese Wonder Book (1919), and Dragon Lure (1925). His books often retold myths, fairy tales, and legends in a form meant to be welcoming for general readers and children.
He died in Tianjin on March 6, 1925, at the age of 48. Though he is not a household name today, his work still stands out as an early effort to share Chinese folklore and storytelling traditions with Western audiences.