Dr. Frederic deJavanne (An De Zhe), is a gifted author, linguist (six modern languages, three ancient languages), translator and editor – and musician. He has served as full professor, vice-chancellor and college president at three major Chinese universities: Tsinghua University, Harbin Medical University, and Harbin University of Commerce. He fell in love with science at age 14, and for many years, “loved science more than any woman.” His wide-ranging interests, besides quantum physics and mathematics, include metaphysics, ancient and medieval cosmology, astronomy, James Joyce, Greek and Chinese philosophy, and psycholinguistics.
His books include, among others, Word Power—a textbook and teaching encyclopedia of English word origins for university students, written in English and Chinese; two novels -- Time Currents and Beware the Fury; Waterlogged Chopstix (irreverent guide for foreign residents of China); The Comic Apocalypse—a study of and guide to James Joyce’s Ulysses; and original translations, French into English, of Vertigo of the Void and Being and Time by French philosopher Eugene de Grandry, for which he was awarded the coveted Grand Prix Humanitaire de France, for “services rendus aux lettres.”
Prof. deJavanne served as Senior Editor of International Review of the Arts, and Associate Editor of Heartland Magazine and The Inkslinger’s Review. A pianist and composer as well, he has two music CD’s to his credit: “Live at the Palace” and “The Phantom of the Piano.”
He has four grown children who have so far produced seven grandchildren including two sets of twins. Residing in Harbin, China (next door to Siberia), he winters gratefully each year at his other home in Phoenix, Arizona. (251 words)