liehtzu
Reader
There is a fair amount of Vietnamese literature in translation, including earlier works such as Nguyen Du's Tale of Khieu and a collection of poems by Ho Xuan Huong (Spring Essence, translated by John Balaban). Both, though highly critical of Confucian and government mores in their day, are taught in every class in "Socialist" Vietnam.
Two of the finest living Vietnamese authors are Duong Thu Huong, whose novels are all banned in her home country, and Nguyen Huy Thiep, who writes exceptional (and frequently exceptionally dark) short stories. Duong is far and away the most translated Vietnamese writer. Her best novel is Paradise of the Blind, which is partially set in the Soviet Union - the young female protagonist is there, as many Vietnamese were in the 1980s, because of "socialist solidarity" - and Nguyen has an anthology of stories in print (Crossing the River) and another out-of-print (The General Retires) in English.
The most popular Vietnamese novel in translation is undoubtedly Bao Ninh's mournful war story The Sorrow of War, a gripping novel of the war told from the "other side" and a welcome bit of balance to the racist, woe-is-America works frequently published in the U. S. This is the only work by Bao in English.
Other Vietnamese authors who have been translated into English include Le Minh Khue, Tran Vu and Ho Anh Thai. There is a fine anthology called Night, Again (edited by the Vietnamese-American author and critic Linh Dinh) available that provides a sampling of almost all the important recent Vietnamese writers.
Two of the finest living Vietnamese authors are Duong Thu Huong, whose novels are all banned in her home country, and Nguyen Huy Thiep, who writes exceptional (and frequently exceptionally dark) short stories. Duong is far and away the most translated Vietnamese writer. Her best novel is Paradise of the Blind, which is partially set in the Soviet Union - the young female protagonist is there, as many Vietnamese were in the 1980s, because of "socialist solidarity" - and Nguyen has an anthology of stories in print (Crossing the River) and another out-of-print (The General Retires) in English.
The most popular Vietnamese novel in translation is undoubtedly Bao Ninh's mournful war story The Sorrow of War, a gripping novel of the war told from the "other side" and a welcome bit of balance to the racist, woe-is-America works frequently published in the U. S. This is the only work by Bao in English.
Other Vietnamese authors who have been translated into English include Le Minh Khue, Tran Vu and Ho Anh Thai. There is a fine anthology called Night, Again (edited by the Vietnamese-American author and critic Linh Dinh) available that provides a sampling of almost all the important recent Vietnamese writers.