Southern temperament through Son Nam's stories

The book will be launched at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street on May 31.

Writer Son Nam is a rare case in modern Vietnamese literature, who has pursued only one theme his entire life, which is the people, customs, culture and history of the South. Right from the beginning of his writing career, he determined his “mission” to write about the land, customs and practices that are deeply rooted in the lives of the people of the South.

His stories are not only simple and rustic, but also full of vitality thanks to his ability to observe, record meticulously and have a wide knowledge. The more readers read Son Nam, the more they see that he is a true native, knowing every creek, tree root, and footprint of the pioneers in the Mekong Delta.

From that love and admiration, author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy decided to “delimit” the research of Son Nam’s stories to examine and explain the Southern temperament, a direction that is not easy but full of passion. According to the author, choosing stories as the material for analysis is a focused approach, allowing for a deeper dive into the personality and character of Southern people in Son Nam’s literature, where fiction becomes a pedestal for the cultural spirit to be clearly conveyed.

The thesis Southern temperament through Son Nam's stories is the result of more than 20 years of diligent research by the author, originating from his master's thesis on Southern culture and people in Son Nam's works. The work was completed with the encouragement of many literary friends, especially poet Le Minh Quoc, Chairman of the Poetry Council of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers' Association, who accompanied the author in the process of forming ideas until the book was published.

Prof. Dr. Huynh Nhu Phuong, former Head of the Faculty of Literature and Journalism, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences , said: "Author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy has proactively expanded her knowledge, not only in the fields of literary theory and literary history but also in general cultural studies, especially the culture of the Southern region. She has accessed a large amount of documents, met many witnesses, people who had contact with writer Son Nam to enrich her research."

The book is divided into three parts: The first part focuses on presenting Son Nam's literary career and the central themes in his stories; the second part analyzes the cultural elements of the South expressed in his stories; the last part delves into the portrait of the people of the South with typical characteristics such as simplicity, kindness, chivalry and creativity, all of which are portrayed by the writer in a writing style imbued with the character of the countryside, both lyrical and sharp.

Author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy launched a book to pay tribute to writer Son Nam.

According to poet Le Minh Quoc, one of the outstanding arguments of the work is the explanation of why Son Nam boldly combined the two concepts of “civilization” and “garden”, a proud view of the cultural identity of the South. On the other hand, when reading the work, readers will better understand the settlement journey of the Vietnamese people in the land of many swamps and dense forests of the South. There, if they did not bring with them a solid cultural tradition, the Vietnamese people could not overcome the harsh obstacles to establish villages, make a living and create the garden civilization of today.

"The stories of writer Son Nam do not tell stories in a linear way but expand the cultural space, so that readers can see the depth of regional identity. His works are like real slices of the journey of reclaiming the land, of the fate of small but strong people, of the optimistic spirit and flexible adaptation of the people of the old South," said poet Le Minh Quoc.

The work "Southern temperament through Son Nam's story" is therefore not simply a literary work but also has cultural value. For author Dinh Thi Thanh Thuy, this is an act of gratitude to a great writer of the South, who spent his life preserving the temperament of the land and its people through language.

“This can be seen as a special kind of understanding. The understanding is not from two sides talking directly, but a deep and lasting sympathy through the work. Thus, writer Son Nam has another kindred spirit”, poet Le Minh Quoc shared.

The exchange and book launch of "Southern Temperament through Son Nam's Stories" will be held on May 31 at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The event, organized by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, aims to bring readers closer to the cultural characteristics and temperament of the Southern people, through the literary lens of writer Son Nam, who is considered a beloved "Southern old man" in the hearts of many generations of Vietnamese readers.

According to VNA

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/khi-chat-nam-bo-qua-truyen-son-nam-1043755/