The novel “The Clan Chief” is over 400 pages long, set in a familiar northern village. The author does not structure the novel, but tells the story in a concise manner, the plots, big and small, the main and supporting characters just “bloom” like popcorn, evenly and plumply.
The author, through generations of characters, recounts the history of the village, commune, and clan, from the time of its establishment, through two resistance wars against the French and the Americans, to modern times.
The story of the Vo family in the book can be found in any village. It is the conflict between the old and new generations between grandparents who want to keep their land and customs, and the children who only want to get rich quickly; the desire and competition to gain the upper hand of each clan in the village; the negative and complex aspects of local management; the moral degradation of the village...
It can be said that too many changes have seriously affected traditional customs and the Vietnamese countryside is increasingly modernized, richer and more prosperous, but not necessarily more civilized. So the classic struggle between good and evil, between new and old is indispensable and this war is never-ending.
“The Clan Chief” tells stories about the village and their family, and also about people, society, and the Vietnamese countryside. These stories themselves seem to implicitly warn about “the disappearing countryside”, although much of the beauty of the village is still preserved and cherished and is deeply ingrained in every word of the author.
Many pages are written as a stream of memories expressing nostalgia, which all Vietnamese people can more or less sympathize with: the rustic houses, the simple yet intelligent manners of the Northern villagers; the ancient mossy beauty of the village scenery and the rich yet sophisticated culinary delights...
In the Epilogue, author Nguyen Thanh shared: “Reading Pham Quang Long’s novels, it is not difficult to see the endless inspirations from the author’s endless stories about his family, clan, and village associated with memories from his childhood, his adulthood, along with experiences, observations, concerns, pressures, sorrows, regrets… about human love, village love, and current affairs. Originally a stream that had been initiated and led from the previous novels, in “The Clan Leader” it has flowed into many branches, many streams, more immense and more abundant”.
On the occasion of the novel's launch, the Vietnamese Women's Publishing House in collaboration with the Faculty of Literature - University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) organized a meeting with author Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Long at 8:00 a.m. on November 11, at the 8th floor auditorium, building E, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (336 Nguyen Trai Street, Hanoi).
With the theme "A small village with many stories", the exchange will expand the connection to the works of author Pham Quang Long about village stories, stories of villagers going to the city, city people returning to the countryside...
Associate Professor, Dr., writer Pham Quang Long, former Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, former Vice President of Hanoi National University, former Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hanoi.
He is the author of many notable works such as: "Lost in the human world" (novel, 2016), "Once upon a time friends" (novel, 2017), "Chess game" (novel, 2018), "Village story" (novel, 2020), "Rươi season" (novel, 2020), "Street story" (novel, 2024)...
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/pgs-ts-pham-quang-long-ke-chuyen-lang-chuyen-ho-trong-truong-toc-722531.html
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