Picked up along the way

Illustration by Dao Hai Phong in Thuan Huu's book "Picking Up Along the Way". Photo: QH

Poet and journalist Thuan Huu, whose real name is Nguyen Huu Thuan, was a student of the Literature Department, Class 21, Hanoi University. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 11th and 12th terms, former Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association (2011-2021).

This is his fourth book. His first poetry collection was titled "Moments of Heartache" (published by the Quang Nam - Da Nang Literature and Arts Association in 1987); his short story collection "Daylight Lamp" (Da Nang Publishing House, 1988); and his poetry collection "The Call of the Sea" (Da Nang Publishing House, 2000). Despite having four books, he still doesn't consider himself a poet and hasn't joined the Vietnam Writers Association.

The poetry collection is divided into three parts: Homeland - Country, Loved Ones - Memories, and Love for the Sea - My Love, with over 100 poems. The prominent theme of the collection is "Love for homeland and country".

In the opening poem - My Village, he wrote: "I am a child of a hilly region / But also a child of the sea / Love for my country is intertwined in my blood and flesh / I grew up in the sunshine and wind of the mountains and hills and the waves of the ocean ."

The poet Thuan Huu traveled to almost every province and city in the country. His poems are works he "collected" from the many places he visited, from encounters with others, and from his own family and loved ones.

In the introduction to the collection "Gathering Along the Way," writer Nguyen Quang Thieu wrote: "When he writes about sadness, pain, uncertainty, darkness, and anything else, in the end, beauty, love for humanity, the light of hope, and the pride of being human still transcend everything to resonate."

The appendix includes analyses of Thuan Huu's famous works, among which is "Moments of Heartache." This poem was written when he was 20 years old and became famous from then on when many musicians chose to set it to music.

The book is beautifully presented with many illustrations, and the cover was drawn by artist Dao Hai Phong. At the launch event, artist Dao Hai Phong shared: "I drew the paths that author Thuan Huu traveled; some people will find them familiar because they have also traveled those routes at some point in time."

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nhat-doc-duong-3155475.html