GOOD READING: Seven books by famous Vietnamese writers of the country’s contemporary literature from the 1980s to 1990s have been reprinted by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the Trẻ Publishing House.

HCM CITY — Seven books by famous writers of the country’s contemporary literature from the 1980s to 1990s have been reprinted by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House in HCM City.

The publications include novels and short stories collections by late authors Nguyễn Huy Thiệp, Bảo Ninh, Hồ Anh Thái, Nguyễn Việt Hà, Nguyễn Bình Phương, Dương Hướng and Đỗ Phấn.

These books were selected from many of the writers’ bestsellers featuring the history, culture and lifestyle of northern people.

Highlighted works include Ninh’s Nỗi Buồn Chiến Tranh (The Sorrow of War) released in 1990 and Thiệp’s Tướng Về Hưu (Retired Army General) in 1987.

The novel Nỗi Buồn Chiến Tranh tells the story of a soldier who grows reflective as he collects dead bodies after a battle during the American war in Việt Nam.

It is written in a stream of consciousness style, helping the writer to win his first prize presented by the Việt Nam Writers’ Association Award in 1991.

The book won several prizes from leading associations and printers, including the Asia Literature Award 2018 in South Korea.

It has been translated into many different languages and published in around 20 countries, including Japan, Thailand, Korea, France and the US.

Ninh, whose real name is Hoàng Ấu Phương, was born in 1952.

He lived in Hà Nội before serving in the 27th Youth Volunteer Brigade in the American war, and is one of just ten soldiers of that brigade who survived after 1969.

His success helped the writer promote Vietnamese literature to the world, particularly in Asian countries.

The short story Tướng Về Hưu has been considered one of Thiệp’s most successful pieces.

It was first printed in the Văn Nghệ (Literature and Arts) newspaper in 1987, and quickly became a phenomenon in the industry.

The work features people living in a village of the North in the đổi mới (Renewal) period starting in 1986.

Thiệp was born in 1950 in Thái Nguyên Province. He graduated from the History Faculty of Hà Nội Teachers Training College and began his writing career in 1986 with several short stories published in Văn Nghệ.

Thiệp released 50 short stories depicting contemporary Vietnamese society, rural life, and workers.

He passed away at 72 in Hà Nội last year.

For his talent and contributions, Thiệp was honoured the State Prize in Literature and Arts in 2021, French Literature and Arts Medal in 2007 and Premio Nonino Prize by Italian authorities in 2008.

“Nguyễn Huy Thiệp is one of the most well-known Vietnamese writers of the last quarter of the 20th century,” said writer, poet and painter Nguyễn Quang Thiều, president of the Vietnamese Writers' Association. — VNS