Join us for an evening of literature and conversation celebrating Radha Vatsal’s newly released novel, No. 10 Doyers Street. Hosted by playwright/author Alvin Eng, the event will explore Vatsal’s captivating portrayal of early 20th-century Chinatown and the colorful personalities in her book. Don’t miss this compelling evening of history, literature, and conversation!
✨ Featuring:
Book Reading & Discussion: Gain insights into the historical events behind No. 10 Doyers Street and the real-life figures that shaped its narrative.
Author Q&A & Book Signing: Meet Radha Vatsal and have your copy signed.
Sampling of snacks selected from menus of local turn-of-the-century Chinatown restaurants.
Copies of No. 10 Doyers Street will be available for purchase.
ABOUT THE BOOK
New York City, 1907. Archana Morley knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As a female journalist from India navigating the ruthless world of tabloid newspapers, she is always searching for hidden stories.
After a violent shooting in Chinatown, Archana encounters her most challenging subject: the infamous gangster Mock Duck. But as Mayor George McClellan Jr. pushes to demolish Chinatown, the authorities raid Mock Duck’s home, tearing apart his family and exposing a web of corruption. Archana’s quest for the truth takes her from the gritty back alleys of Chinatown to the smoky corridors of City Hall, revealing a city on the brink of modernity.
Inspired by true events, No. 10 Doyers Street is a gripping historical novel that sheds light on the immigrant experience and the turbulent forces shaping New York City at the turn of the century.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Shin Ono
Radha Vatsal is the author of No. 10 Doyers Street (March 2025) and the acclaimed Kitty Weeks mystery series set in World War I-era New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Review of Books, CrimeReads, and more. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she holds a Ph.D. in Film History from Duke University and has worked as a film curator, political speechwriter, and freelance journalist. She is a 2024-25 Fellow at the CUNY Writers’ Institute and resides in New York City.
ABOUT THE HOST
Alvin Eng is a native NYC playwright, memoirist, performer, acoustic punk rock raconteur and educator. His plays and performances have been seen Off-Broadway, throughout the U.S., as well as in Paris, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. His memoir, OUR LAUNDRY, OUR TOWN: My Chinese American Life from Flushing to the Downtown Stage and Beyond, was published in hardcover by Fordham University Press in 2022.