Author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy and writer and journalist Le Minh Quoc recall their meetings with writer Son Nam - Photo: Publishing House
On the morning of May 31, at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, there was a book launch exchange program called Southern Spirit through Son Nam's stories with author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy and guest writer and journalist Le Minh Quoc.
The exchange is an opportunity for speakers and readers to share about the person and works of "Southern old man" Son Nam.
I was curious to follow Mr. Son Nam and listen to his stories.
Southern temperament through Son Nam's stories is a cultural and literary research work by author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy after 20 years of doing her master's thesis.
Recalling the time when she started researching Son Nam's works, Ms. Thuy - former director and editor-in-chief of Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - said:
"In 2000, Ho Chi Minh City Museum proposed a strategy to prepare for a new generation of successors with names such as: Post-archaeology, Thang dao, Thang moc, Thang chu, Cong dong, My da, Tuan go...
The leaders assigned some personnel to go to graduate school, with optional research topics, but how to gradually become experts such as: land register - place name, Southern studies, linguists...
According to this "order", considering between Son Nam and Binh Nguyen Loc in the list of many Southern literary authors, I chose writer Son Nam, the "old man who walked" throughout the South in the 20th century.
The important thing is that year, I determined that I would have many opportunities to talk to him, follow him around, and listen to his stories at the Go Vap Traditional House.
With the topic "Southern culture and people in Son Nam's works" and later written into a book, Ms. Thuy researched 134 stories of the writer including: novels, short stories, memoirs, essays, research papers, articles in newspapers and magazines to reflect the culture, customs, and identity of Southern people in their behavior and lifestyle in the face of changes in nature and history...
Son Nam places southern culture in the common tradition of the country.
According to Mr. Le Minh Quoc, Son Nam's stories are full of vitality, fiction is just an excuse, a foundation to convey the elements that Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy has seen.
For example, "the image of pioneers reclaiming land to establish villages in the Mekong Delta in the 19th century is described through hardships but full of innocence and optimism on the way to find new life.
The suffering of farmers under the French colonial land regime and the spirit of patriotism that was kindled in the hearts of Southern people in the first half of the 20th century account for the largest proportion in Son Nam's literary works.
"For a long time, many researchers have believed that Southern cultural figures such as Truong Vinh Ky, Ho Bieu Chanh, Phi Van, Binh Nguyen Loc, Doan Gioi, Son Nam, Nguyen Van Hau... are from the South, only the South.
The reason why their great stature touches the hearts of Vietnamese people nationwide is because they are aware of placing Southern culture in the flow of unified Vietnam, which is still the tradition and spirit of the country and people of Vietnam" - Mr. Quoc commented.
Book Southern Temperament through Son Nam's Stories - Photo: Publishing House
In the book, the author pointed out the typical personality traits of Southern people in Son Nam's stories such as: simplicity, straightforwardness, humanity, chivalry, practicality, flexibility, intelligence, and creativity.
To Ms. Thuy, writer Son Nam is a straightforward, intelligent and eccentric person, and is a person who most clearly sums up the typical characteristics of Southern people.
Mr. Quoc recalled the simple and humble times when Mr. Son Nam met his fellow writers: "He said his eyes were getting dimmer so he hoped everyone would understand if he did not recognize him or greet him when they met. He told us, the younger generation, to call him when we met him so he could say hello."
Ms. Dao Thuy Lieu, youngest daughter of writer Son Nam, shared - Photo: HO LAM
At the book launch, Ms. Dao Thuy Lieu, daughter of writer Son Nam, confided that she was very happy for her father because although he passed away 17 years ago, there are still "soulmates" like Mr. Minh Quoc and Ms. Thanh Thuy who have painstakingly collected and researched deeply about Son Nam, thereby helping readers better understand the man and his works.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bac-son-nam-la-nguoi-boc-truc-thong-minh-va-gan-gan-20250531090445593.htm
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam works with the Standing Committee of Quang Binh and Quang Tri Provincial Party Committees](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/6/25/6acdc70e139d44beaef4133fefbe2c7f)
Comment (0)