Elena Suet-Ying Chiu received her Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Culture from UCLA followed by a post-doctoral position in Chinese Studies at Stanford University. Her research and teaching interests include traditional Chinese narrative and drama, Ming-Qing oral and performing literature, Manchu language, literature and culture, as well as ethnicity and gender issues in late imperial and early Republican China. She is currently working on her book manuscript on the Manchu storytelling genre zidi shu (bannermen tales).