Cover of the 2 Vietnamese and French versions of "The Poetics of the Tale of Kieu"

Thua Thien Hue Weekend respectfully presents to readers an introduction by Dr. Tran Le Bao Chan ( Ho Chi Minh City University of Education) - the person who translated "The Poetics of the Tale of Kieu" into French, and is also the author of a chapter in this book.

This publication was translated and published in France as the result of a multi-year scientific cooperation project between Hanoi National University of Education and the Paris Superior School of Education, which has lasted from 2017 to present, chaired by Professor Michel Espagne of the Paris Superior School of Education (France).

“The Poetics of the Tale of Kieu” is a literary research work that Professor Tran Dinh Su devoted to depicting in detail, in depth, and meticulously the Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du. This work has been evaluated as a prestigious national academic publication researching the work of Kieu.

The novelty of this publication, in Vietnamese, lies not only in the author's sharp analytical writing style but especially in the author's approach and rigorous argumentation system to reach accurate conclusions and comments. The theoretical foundation that brings scientific value to this book by Professor Tran Dinh Su is built through the theoretical system that the professor received from the West, through the interdisciplinary nature of his research method. From there, it allows readers to explore the work Truyen Kieu in a new way, from creative perspectives.

Tran Dinh Su, with his coherent thinking in comparative literature research and the acumen of a literary theorist, has conveyed a new vision as well as subtle discoveries and artistic worldviews in the most classic literary work in the history of Vietnamese literature.

Through “The Poetics of the Tale of Kieu”, Professor Tran Dinh Su is also the first scientist to apply the theory of poetics to analyze and research literary works, paving the way for the school of poetics criticism in contemporary Vietnamese literature. Indeed, “The Poetics of the Tale of Kieu” by Tran Dinh Su is the result of the process of contemplating and practicing poetics.

In this work, the author focused on studying the work Truyen Kieu in all aspects of the work's artistic creation. From there, he pointed out the connection between Truyen Kieu and traditional national literary genres, clarified Nguyen Du's artistic worldview and creativity, and pointed out linguistic forms such as: internal monologue, antithesis, allusions, metaphors, plot forms, narrative types... which are the elements that create Nguyen Du's poetics.

The book was translated and published in France, in addition to translating and retranslating the content of 6 chapters of the original book published by the general publishing house, there is a 35-page Introduction chapter written by translator Tran Le Bao Chan introducing Professor Tran Dinh Su and his career of literary research and criticism, and a general introduction for French readers to get acquainted with Nguyen Du and the work Truyen Kieu.

Chapter 1: Comments on the main methods in studying the poem Truyen Kieu. Chapter 2: Presents a comparative study between Truyen Kieu and Chinese novels as well as the exchange between Vietnamese and Chinese literature. Chapter 3: Analyzes the intertextuality between Nom poetry and Truyen Kieu, aiming to clarify the reception of Vietnamese cultural and literary influences, especially the relationship between literary genres and the plot of Vietnamese works. Chapter 4: Research on the art world that forms the contemporary research trend in studying Truyen Kieu. Chapter 5: Research on the narrative text in Truyen Kieu, thereby highlighting the characteristics and uniqueness of the poetic style of the work. Chapter 6: Surveys the work's rhetorical devices to study the style, tone, nuances, duality, and dualism in the narrative.

Book information in France and European countries:

The Poetry of Kieu

Tran Dinh Su

Translation and introduction by Tran Le Bao Chan

Editor: Kimé Editions

Collection / Série : Détours littéraires

Tran Le Bao Chan