FIVE well-known writers gave a public reading of their works at the Minsheng Art Museum yesterday in a buildup to the 14th International Conference on the Short Story in English, which will be held from today until Saturday in Shanghai.

Clark Blaise, Robert Olen Butler, Gish Jen, Bharati Mukherjee and Li Yiyun read to over 100-strong audience among whom were fellow writers and local literature enthusiasts.

It is the first time that the conference is being held in Asia. About 250 writers from over 30 countries will participate in the conference.