Writer Vu Bang from profound lyricism to profound satire

Writer Vu Bang (1913 - 1984) was born into a Confucian family. He attended Albert Sarraut High School and graduated with a French Baccalaureate. His father died early, and Vu Bang lived with his mother, who owned a bookstore on Hang Gai Street (Hanoi). From a young age, he was passionate about writing and journalism.

At the age of 16, he had a story published in a newspaper, and immediately after that, he threw himself into writing and journalism with all his passion. At the age of 17, he published his first work, The Jar of Literature . In the field of journalism, in the 1930s and 1940s, when he was still very young, he was the editor-in-chief of the Saturday Novel , the editorial secretary of famous newspapers such as Trung Bac Sunday, Ngay Nay, Ha Noi Newspaper ... and collaborated with many newspapers in Hanoi and Saigon.

Writer Vu Bang

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According to the yearbook of Modern Vietnamese Writers (Writers Association Publishing House), writer Vu Bang's birth name was Vu Dang Bang, born in 1913 in Hanoi, originally from Binh Giang District, Hai Duong Province. In addition to the pen name Vu Bang, he also signed with other pen names: Tieu Lieu, Vit Con, Thien Thu, Van Ly Trinh, Le Tam, Hoang Thi Tram. He died in 1984 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some published works: Jar of Literature (satirical collection, 1931); Alone in the Dark (novel, 1937); Story of Two People (novel, 1940); Crime and Regret (novel, 1940); Lightning Sea and Rain Source (novel, 1941); Quych and Quac (children's story, 1941); Water fern (novel, 1944); Cai (memoir, 1942); Moc Hoa Vuong (novel, 1953); Delicious Pieces of Hanoi (essay, 1955); Thuy Tien Tet (1956); Missing Twelve (essay, 1960); Strange Pieces of the South (memoir, 1969); Forty Years of Lies (memoir, 1969); Research on Novels (1951, 1955); Love of words (collection of stories, 1970); The talkative writer (1971); The pre-war laughing trees (1971); The ghost of Mrs. Hoat's house (novel, 1973); Vu Bang anthology (3 volumes, Literature Publishing House, 2000); Those who sow the wind (2 volumes, Literature Publishing House, 2003); Complete works of Vu Bang (4 volumes, Literature Publishing House, 2006); Vu Bang , newly discovered works (collected by Lai Nguyen An; Saigon Culture Publishing House, 2010); Hanoi in the whirlwind (Women's Publishing House, 2010); Culture... Untangling (Women's Publishing House, 2012)... and several other translated books. He was awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts, 2nd term, 2007.

At the end of 1946, Vu Bang and his family evacuated to the resistance zone. At the end of 1948, returning to Hanoi, he began participating in activities in the revolutionary intelligence network (code name X10). In 1954, assigned by the organization, he went to Saigon, leaving his wife and son in Hanoi, continuing to write and work until April 30, 1975. Returning to Hanoi after 1975, Vu Bang was officially recognized as a member of the Vietnam Writers Association.

Writer and journalist Vu Bang is a typical face of modern Vietnamese literature and journalism, with profound contributions both before and after the August Revolution of 1945. He stands out not only for his reporting, essay writing, and journalism, but also for his talented, sophisticated, and emotional literary style, leaving a distinct mark in the national literature.

Vu Bang's journalistic reports, sketches, and portraits are sharp, humane, and imbued with national spirit. He did not hesitate to criticize the semi-feudal colonial society, protect the poor workers, and at the same time use his pen as a fighting tool. He wrote many short stories and novels with a social realist orientation, but also with a romantic quality, reflecting the spiritual life of urban people. Typical works of this period include: The scent of early green rice, The ceremony, The last night of a love letter...

Vu Bang's journalistic style is sharp, flexible, and graceful. His articles are often lightly satirical but poignant, and his writing style is soft but profound. He does not write dryly, but always tells stories, creates images, and evokes emotions with everyday language that is polished and accessible to the public but not easy. He is a pioneer in bringing literature into journalism, creating a unique style among the press at that time.

Vu Bang's literary style is imbued with profound lyrical essays, especially in "Thuong nho muoi thap " - a masterpiece of the literary essay genre, in which he skillfully interweaves memories, emotions and folk culture, creating a symphony of nostalgia. His language is rich in imagery, music , rhythmic sentences, soft as poetry, evoking scenery and emotions in a subtle way. His writing is the pain of those who are far from home, the pride of national culture, the struggle of those living in a divided country with a spirit of patriotism and nostalgia.

He is a "language artist" in both the fields of literature and journalism, a bridge between reality and the soul of the Vietnamese people through a period of historical turmoil. It can be said that the two works "Thuong nho muoi thap" and "Forty years of lies" are two outstanding peaks in Vu Bang's literary and journalistic career, clearly demonstrating his essay style, lyricism and profound humanistic thoughts.

The two works "Thuong nho muoi thap" and "Forty years of lies" show two sides of Vu Bang's style: One side is lyrical, profound, full of national and emotional feelings. The other side is a humorous, self-deprecating tone, reflecting the spirit of freedom and sharp criticism. Both are testaments to the linguistic talent, emotions and intellectual courage of a great writer, worthy of being a monument in modern Vietnamese literature and journalism. (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nha-van-vu-bang-tu-tru-tinh-sau-lang-den-cham-biem-tham-thuy-185250622211453382.htm