Name: Alexandra Pearson
From: Emsworth, Hampshire
Living in: Beijing

‘A series of fantastic adventures, where I have always kept in mind a slogan that a teacher taught me when I was 16: To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing’

Alexandra Pearson is testament to those unafraid to explore life’s unconsidered byways to see where they might lead. The result here was the creation of ‘The Bookworm’, likened by some to the literary salons of seventeenth century Europe, though with a global membership.

The daughter of a diplomat, Alex first lived in Beijing in 1982. Demonstrating diverse intellectual interests, she took a degree in Chinese at the University of Westminster, returning to Beijing in 1992 to study at the Central Conservatory of Music.

Entrepreneurial skill was learned through enterprises with a cultural focus and ‘The Bookworm’ evolved from a simple book exchange scheme to a meeting place that feeds its membership physically and intellectually. Since opening in 2004, there has been a remarkably swift expansion of activities as Alex added talks, quizzes, music nights, and a literary festival, onto the original model. There are now five Bookworms, which she describes collectively as a ‘wriggle’, and plans for more when the possibilities of the present venues have been thoroughly developed.

Her knowledge of China has been gained by intrepid travel to its far corners and odd crannies as an ‘intrigued traveller’. This has informed her impression that the greatest changes of the last twenty years have been in development of the performing arts and the effect that increasing mobility has on personal sensitivity to all aspects of life.

Alex’s commitment to China has been amply demonstrated by her willingness to use ‘The Bookworm’ as a focus for crisis relief. The Beijing venue was vigorous in its attempts to get help to those affected by the Sichuan earthquake and continues to support initiatives by charities in the area.

We know that the best ideas are the simplest ones and with ‘The Bookworm’ Alex has proved this beyond any doubt.