On the occasion of Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, April 24, 2024, Kim Dong Publishing House organized an exchange program and launched the book “The Writer’s Path” – the diary of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong.
The book launch attracted a large number of young readers
Book Writer’s path was born right on the occasion of the 112th birthday anniversary of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong, showing the vitality of his literature and thought. In particular, his experiences on the path to establishing a career are also a source of encouragement for today’s young generation. This special book is aimed at young readers who are wondering and eager to enter life with the desire to establish themselves and start a career like their predecessor Nguyen Huy Tuong more than 80 years ago.
Speaking at the opening of the discussion, Ms. Vu Thi Quynh Lien – Deputy Director, Editor-in-Chief of Kim Dong Publishing House shared: “We are very happy that today’s book launch has many young people, because in the activities On Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2024, many questions were raised: Do young people still read books, especially massive works? This is also the concern of writer Nguyen Huy Thang, and he decided to edit it so that the diary pages of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong become more familiar to young readers. Surely many young readers have not read this book, but I believe that after today’s introduction, the work will come closer to readers!
Deputy Director, Editor-in-Chief of Kim Dong Publishing House Vu Thi Quynh Lien gave the opening speech at the book launch
With the participation of researcher Nguyen Huy Thang, literature professor Do Thanh Nga, and language professor Do Anh Vu, the exchange shed light on the career and contributions of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong as a writer. writer, revolutionary activist.
As a famous writer and playwright, writer Nguyen Huy Tuong is the author of historical novels and great plays such as: Vu Nhu To, Long Tri festival night, Bac Son, Live forever Capital… For young readers of many generations, he is remembered through his unique children’s works: The flag embroidered with six golden words, Looking for mother, Princess An Tu, Brave girl… He is one of the founders and first director of Kim Dong Publishing House.
Nguyen Huy Tuong came to writing quite late. In his youth, not resigned to the life of a paper scraper, he participated in patriotic movements of young people and students in Hai Phong; National language dissemination and scouting activities. In 1943 he joined the secret National Salvation Culture group. In August 1945, Nguyen Huy Tuong was sent to attend the National Congress in Tan Trao. After the success of the August Revolution, he became a key leader of the National Salvation Cultural Association and a delegate to the First National Assembly in 1946. After 1954, he was a founding member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, a member of the National Assembly. Executive Committee. Writer Nguyen Huy Tuong has won many awards, including the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, phase I – 1996.
Cover of the book “The Writer’s Way”
Writer’s path includes 3 parts, part 1 is diary pages from 1938-1939 with main contents: Civil servant life, Literary dreams, Hang Voi baby, Spreading the national language and marriage. Part 2, diary from 1940-1943 with the following contents: Changed to Hai Phong, Scouting, Reception, Long Tri Festival Night and mother passed away. Part 3 is the diary pages from 1943 to before the outbreak of the August Revolution of 1945, with the main contents: Vu Nhu To, An Tu, National Salvation Culture, Pioneer. Between part 1 and part 2 is A geniusmatter The diary pages about the wedding month are also very unique by writer Nguyen Huy Tuong.
The book’s layout outlines Nguyen Huy Tuong’s “writer’s path” with his literary dream in part 1 when young Nguyen Huy Tuong was always haunted by the “literary ghost”, until part 2 when he wrote a novel. first product Long Tri festival night was printed into a book and part 3 when he released it Vu Nhu To – major work in his career. Besides the “writer’s path”, with this 3-part layout, readers can also learn about his journey of participating in social activities and patriotic activities before the Revolution.
Researcher Nguyen Huy Thang – the only son of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong – confided about the process of making the book Writer’s path: “From the 1930s until he was about to pass away, my father kept a diary. He passed away when I was 5 years old, and I don’t remember much about him, but my father’s diary is the door to his world for me to explore. At that time, I was only 9 or 10 years old. The 30 diaries he left behind contained very private details, but my mother still let me read them. I recognized his portrait from the age of 18 to the age of 48. There was the world that my father experienced during a special period of history, Vietnamese society went through many changes. Many of his contemporaries later became famous historical figures, writers, social activists, and intellectuals. There are many large and small events that my father directly participated in and contributed to. The interesting thing is that the diary pages were written by a skilled, enthusiastic and sincere writer, so they have documentary and literary value. The diary pages of a writer and revolutionary on the path to self-determination and career are very close to readers, especially young readers of school age. Therefore, we have shared this book with literature lovers, literary researchers and young readers.”
Speakers at the book launch
Dr. Do Anh Vu said that twice before, writer Nguyen Huy Tuong’s diary was published as a book, covering almost his entire life as a writer. However, due to the size of the book series, which is three volumes, it seems only suitable for in-depth researchers. Writer’s path Edited abridged during the years 1938-1945, spanning the period from the age of 26 to 33 of Nguyen Huy Tuong, it contains content that is quite close to the general public due to its imbued elements. Humanistic elements rich in life. During his youthful years full of enthusiasm and desire to contribute but also wondering about finding that path, Nguyen Huy Tuong chose his diary as a place to both confide and practice writing. The diary pages of this period are authentic documents to learn about the path of self-determination and career to become a writer, social activist, and young revolutionary Nguyen Huy Tuong. At the same time, they are realistic sketches of a generation of pre-war writers, precious historical pages about the revolutionary and patriotic activities before the August Revolution of urban petty bourgeois intellectuals.
Sharing the same opinion, Dr. Do Thanh Nga shared: “Reading the diary of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong, I realized the portrait of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong in everyday life, a person concerned with literature, with the meaning of life, the meaning of life.” be human. Readers will realize his ideals when choosing the path of honoring the nation’s history and making a name for himself with plays and historical novels. Throughout the time the writer pursued his literary career, he also participated in social activities to become a true revolutionary and a leader of the Cultural Movement to Save the Nation. When reading, young children can imagine the socio-cultural picture of the period 1930-1945. In addition to the portrait of Nguyen Huy Tuong, they can also see portraits of contemporary writers and artists. The diary is attractive because of its concise but vivid writing style, with realistic and emotional details. Nguyen Huy Tuong’s private diary pages are valuable documents about social life, civil servant life and partly sketch the picture of Vietnamese literature before the August Revolution.
Article and photos: NGO HONG VAN
