Abrahamsen studied Chinese at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing from 2001, and remained in China until 2016, translating and promoting Chinese literature. He hosts the website Paper Republic.^[2]

• Awarded a PEN Translation Grant for his translation of Wang Xiaobo's My Spiritual Homeland.^[3]
• Awarded a NEA grant for his translation of Xu Zechen's Running Through Beijing.
• Shortlisted for the National Translation Award for his translation of Xu Zechen's Running Through Beijing.
• 2015 - Awarded Special Book Award of China^[4]

Abrahamsen has translated numerous works of varying lengths, which have been published in The New Yorker, Granta, n+1, and Paper Republic. He also writes about contemporary Chinese literature.

Translations of Novels edit

• Wang Xiaofang: The Civil Servant's Notebook (2011) 公务员笔记
• Xu Zechen: Running Through Beijing (2013) 跑步穿过中关村

Translations of Short Stories edit

• A Yi: Barren Land 贫瘠之地
• A Yi: In the Penal Colony 在流放地
• Bi Feiyu: The Deluge 大雨如注
• Bi Feiyu: Wang Village and the World 地球上的王家庄
• Jiang Yitan: China Story 中国故事
• Lu Yang: Silver Tiger 银色老虎
• Lu Yang: Running Around Beijing 在北京奔跑
• Sheng Keyi: An Inexperienced World 缺乏经验的世界
• Su Tong: Watermelon Boats 西瓜船
• Wang Xiaobo: Mister Lover 舅舅情人
• Xu Zechen: A Brief History of Time 时间简史
• Xu Zechen: Outdoor Film 露天电影
• Xu Zechen: Wheels Are Round 轮子是圆的
• Xu Zechen: Visiting Dai on a Snowy Evening 雪夜访戴
• Xu Zechen: The Dog's Been Barking All Day, July, 2017 狗叫了一天
• Zhang Wei: King's Blood 王血
• Zhang Wei: Rain and Snow 下雨下雪

• Paper Republic website
• Eric Abrahamsen profile on Paper Republic
• Eric Abrahamsen profile on Words Without Borders
• Interview with Eric Abrahamsen in World Literature Today (2014)
• Interview with Eric Abrahamsen in SFWP (2015)
• Feature about Abrahamsen in the South China Morning Post (21 Nov 2021)