The melody of the lute in the wind: A different perspective on war.

Many literary works have been written about the Vietnam War. Quite a few of them are direct witnesses who participated in the war, providing a wealth of factual information. However, "The Melody in the Wind" takes a unique and rather novel approach, the perspective of an ordinary citizen in a southern urban area.

War, and life in general, always needs to be viewed from multiple perspectives to provide readers with the most accurate picture possible of different periods of history. This is also an interesting aspect of the book, as although the author did not directly participate in the war, members of his family and lineage were involved, on both sides. This served as the material for the author's work.

The war story in "The Melody in the Wind" tells of three generations of a family, from grandparents to parents and children. They were immersed in a turbulent period of the country's history. The land depicted in the work is a village in Southern Vietnam. Within that family, some went to the North during the war, some joined the local guerrilla forces, and conversely, some enlisted in the army, working for the Republic of Vietnam regime. The storm of war spared no one. It not only destroyed peaceful villages but also tore apart the simple souls of the countryside.

The author writes with love and empathy, without pretense or criticism. The story quietly unfolds as truthfully as possible, without leaning towards one side or the other. It concludes with both smiles and tears on the day of peace and reunification. Smiles for those who returned home after being away. Tears for those who fell... On this day of family reunion, no one speaks of hatred, no one speaks of victory, only understanding and love. Recalling the war allows us to appreciate and cherish the peaceful days we live today even more; this is also the overarching wish of the work.

Tu Nguyen Thach, born in 1956, was formerly a teacher and journalist. He began writing prose and poetry in 1975 and has produced many works that have left a lasting impression on readers, such as: "The Land I Love" (poetry collection, 1989), "Sad Song" (poetry collection, 1990), "Human Love in Isolation" (novel, 2020), "Two Sides of the Battlefield" (collection of short stories and essays, 2022), "108 Days Living in Isolation" (diary, 2024)... along with many works published jointly with other authors.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dan-ngan-trong-gio-mot-goc-nhin-khac-ve-chien-war-post792168.html