"Obsessed with words" - Poet Huu Thinh's love for generations of writers

"Haunted by Words" is nearly 600 pages long, a collection of 46 poems written by poet Huu Thinh over a period of 5 years (from 2020 to 2025). Poet Huu Thinh commented: "Our literature has progressed so much after half a century of war, that people can think of the golden half century of Vietnamese literature. What can be called feelings and comments brought about by reading books over the past 5 years, I have compiled into the book "Haunted by Words".

Poet Huu Thinh shares about his new book. Photo: BTC

Portraits of authors and works from great figures of the resistance literature period such as To Huu, Che Lan Vien, Nguyen Dinh Thi, Tran Dan, Huu Mai, Nguyen Binh... to young authors who matured after the war such as Phung Van Khai, Nhu Binh... are all selected by poet Huu Thinh.

“Truly talented writers all have their own way of surviving. They have burned themselves out, so shining is natural. So, as readers, we must also know how to enjoy the values that true talents have created. I did not discriminate between young and old when writing this book. I only had one choice, which was to tell readers about the literary talent that is accompanying the mission of enriching people and life,” poet Huu Thinh shared.

Writer Hoang Quoc Hai shares about the new book of poet Huu Thinh. Photo: BTC

Regarding the new book of poet Huu Thinh, writer Hoang Quoc Hai commented, “Haunted by Words” is Huu Thinh’s love for generations of writers and poets, including predecessors who are no longer alive, Huu Thinh did not ignore. To have nearly 600 pages of the book, Huu Thinh read no less than 1 million pages in 5-6 years, which normally a person needs to read within 20 years.

“Huu Thinh has a love for 5 generations of writers, spanning nearly 100 years of Vietnamese literature. Saying this helps us understand how much time Huu Thinh devotes to this work. His love is shown in his meticulous reading and meticulous writing. Everything passes, only love remains, that is the great affection Huu Thinh has for his literary friends,” writer Hoang Quoc Hai expressed.

Collection of essays and literary criticism "Obsessed with words" by poet Huu Thinh. Photo: Organizing Committee

In “The Obsession with Words”, poet Huu Thinh appears as a sharp and sensitive critic. This is a field in which Huu Thinh humbly considers himself an “outsider”. However, the issues he raises in the book clearly show readers the abundant writing power and extensive reading ability of poet Huu Thinh at the age of 80.

“The Obsession with Words” is a rather large work in terms of both the number of words and the literary content of the works that poet Huu Thinh has read and researched. Reading “The Obsession with Words” further reveals Huu Thinh’s intelligence, heart, affection and talent for literature.

Poet Huu Thinh, 84 years old, graduated from the first class of Nguyen Du Writing School. He joined the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers Association from the 3rd to the 8th term, holding the position of President of the Association for 4 consecutive terms, from 2000 to 2020. He is also a National Assembly Delegate of the 10th and 11th terms. In addition, the poet was President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations.

He wrote poetry, memoirs, critical essays and was most successful in poetry, with nearly 20 collections. His famous works include: “Sang thu”, the epic “Duong den thanh pho” (1979), “Thang ca bien” (1994), “Suc dua cua dat” (2004), “Trang Tan Trao” (2016), “Dien Bien Symphony ” (2025)...

Before “Haunted by Words”, author Huu Thinh had published two books in the same genre: “Reasons for Hope” (2010) and “Writing Wharf and Waves” (2020).

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/am-anh-chu-cai-tinh-cua-nha-tho-huu-thinh-voi-cac-the-he-nha-van-703933.html