Nam Cao
Encyclopedia
Trần Hữu Tri commonly known by his pseudonym Nam Cao, was an eminent Vietnam
ese short-story writer and novelist. His works generally received high acclaim from critics for their thoughtful description and veracious reflection of the society in the 1945 era. As a member of the Cultural Association for National Liberation led by the Communist Party
, he was frequently sent to various places to do missions. In November 1951, he was ambushed and killed on the way to Lien Khu III, Ninh Bình
, before his intention of writing a novel about his country and the revolution was ever met.
, aiming at cultivating knowledge and experience to nourish his writing career. However, as Japan
sent military troops to the area, the school was soon closed to be used as a barn for Japanese soldiers, resulting in his unemployment. He lived an arduous life, making both ends meet by home tutoring
and writing for some newspapers until 1943 when he became a member of Hội văn hóa cứu quốc (The Cultural Association for National Liberation), a position that made him become the target of constant persecution. Aware of the danger, he came back to his hometown and joined the armed forces responsible for overthrowing the then administration. At the same time, he was elected the first president of Lý Nhân District. However, he left the post after a few months and was dispatched to several areas around the country from 1946 to 1951, then working as an editor for Cứu quốc and Văn nghệ newspapers in Việt Bắc
. Many of his works were written during this time, notably including the short stories Chí Phèo (1941), Đôi mắt (The Eyes) (1950), diary Ở rừng (Living in the Forest) (1948), memoir Truyện biên giới (Story in the Frontier) (1948) which won extensive praise. He died on November 30, 1951, in a mission in Ninh Bình
province at age 36 .
He had five children, one of them died in the Vietnamese Famine of 1945
.
Prior to the August Revolution
, his works often focused on two main themes: the life of the impoverished lower middle-class intellects and the destitute life of the farmers in rural areas during the war. Through these stories he successfully depicted the plight of miserable people in the society with unfeigned vivid words and flexible descriptions. He specifically concentrated on the lingering distressful tragedies of their inner souls, indirectly brought forward the prevailing social problems of his period.
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese short-story writer and novelist. His works generally received high acclaim from critics for their thoughtful description and veracious reflection of the society in the 1945 era. As a member of the Cultural Association for National Liberation led by the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
, he was frequently sent to various places to do missions. In November 1951, he was ambushed and killed on the way to Lien Khu III, Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình is a city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is the capital of Ninh Binh province.-Geography:Ninh Binh city located in the southernmost plains north Vietnam...
, before his intention of writing a novel about his country and the revolution was ever met.
Biography
Nam Cao was born on October 29, 1915, to a poor farming family in Lý Nhân District, Hà Nam Province. He was the only child in the family who received a full education. After finishing high school, he headed to Saigon working as a clerk in a tailor’s; his first works were written during this time. Not long after that, he worked as a teacher at Công Thành, a private school in HanoiHanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, aiming at cultivating knowledge and experience to nourish his writing career. However, as Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
sent military troops to the area, the school was soon closed to be used as a barn for Japanese soldiers, resulting in his unemployment. He lived an arduous life, making both ends meet by home tutoring
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
and writing for some newspapers until 1943 when he became a member of Hội văn hóa cứu quốc (The Cultural Association for National Liberation), a position that made him become the target of constant persecution. Aware of the danger, he came back to his hometown and joined the armed forces responsible for overthrowing the then administration. At the same time, he was elected the first president of Lý Nhân District. However, he left the post after a few months and was dispatched to several areas around the country from 1946 to 1951, then working as an editor for Cứu quốc and Văn nghệ newspapers in Việt Bắc
Viet Bac
Việt Bắc is a region of Vietnam north of Hanoi that served as the Viet Minh's base of support during the First Indochina War ....
. Many of his works were written during this time, notably including the short stories Chí Phèo (1941), Đôi mắt (The Eyes) (1950), diary Ở rừng (Living in the Forest) (1948), memoir Truyện biên giới (Story in the Frontier) (1948) which won extensive praise. He died on November 30, 1951, in a mission in Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình
Ninh Bình is a city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is the capital of Ninh Binh province.-Geography:Ninh Binh city located in the southernmost plains north Vietnam...
province at age 36 .
He had five children, one of them died in the Vietnamese Famine of 1945
Vietnamese Famine of 1945
The Vietnamese Famine of 1945 was a famine that occurred in northern Vietnam from October 1944 to May 1945, during the Japanese occupation of French Indochina in World War II. Between 400,000 and 2 million people are estimated to have starved to death during this time.-Causes:There were many...
.
Writing career
Nam Cao is often referred to as one of the most prominent short-story writers in Vietnamese literature. In fact, his works became widely known only after the birth of the short story “Chí Phèo” in 1941, which reaches the zenith of success in his writing career.Prior to the August Revolution
August Revolution
On August 19, 1945, the Việt Minh under Hồ Chí Minh began the August General Uprising Tổng Khởi Nghĩa, which was soon renamed the August Revolution . Whether or not this series of events should be called a "revolution" is disputable; what is clear is that, from August 19 onwards, demonstrations and...
, his works often focused on two main themes: the life of the impoverished lower middle-class intellects and the destitute life of the farmers in rural areas during the war. Through these stories he successfully depicted the plight of miserable people in the society with unfeigned vivid words and flexible descriptions. He specifically concentrated on the lingering distressful tragedies of their inner souls, indirectly brought forward the prevailing social problems of his period.
Novels
- A neighbor’s story (1944)
- Corroded life (1944)
- Other four lost manuscripts: The bowl, A person’s life, The temple, Flooded day.
Short stories
- Ba người bạn (Three friends)
- Bài học quét nhà (Sweeping house lesson)
- Bẩy bông lúa lép (Seven flat rice ears)
- Cái chết của con Mực (The death of Muc)
- Cái mặt không chơi được (The face can't play with)
- Chuyện buồn giữa đêm vui (The sad story in the happy night)
- Cười (Laughing)
- Con mèo (The cat)
- Con mèo mắt ngọc (The opal-eye cat)
- Chí PhèoChí PhèoChí Phèo is one of the most famous short stories written by Nam Cao. This story, which was first published in 1941 by New Life publisher, affirmed Nam Cao's talent and showed deeply human values.-Story:...
(1941) - Đầu đường xó chợ (Street-urchi)
- Điếu văn (Funeral oration)
- Đôi mắt (The eyes)(1948)
- Đôi móng giò (Double pig trotter's heels)
- Đời thừa (Redundant life)(1943)
- Đòn chồng
- Đón khách (Greeting guests)
- Nhỏ nhen (Narrow-minded)
- Làm tổ
- Lang Rận
- Lão Hạc (1943)
- Mong mưa
- Một chuyện xu-vơ-nia (A souvenir story)
- Một đám cưới (A wedding) (1944)
- Mua danh (Title purchase)
- Mua nhà (Buying house)
- Người thợ rèn (The blacksmith)
- Nhìn người ta sung sướng (See them happy)
- Những chuyện không muốn viết (Stories unwilling to write)
- Những trẻ khốn nạn (Abject youths)
- Nụ cười (Smile)
- Nước mắt (Tears)
- Nửa đêm (Midnight)
- Phiêu lưu (Adventure)
- Quái dị (Abnormal)
- Quên điều độ (Irregularity)
- Rình trộm (Thief waylaying)
- Rửa hờn
- Sao lại thế này? (Why?)
- Thôi về đi (Go away!)
- Trăng sáng (Bright moon) (1942)
- Trẻ con không được ăn thịt chó (Children are not allowed to eat dog meat)
- Truyện biên giới (Story in the Frontier)
- Truyện tình (Love story)
- Tư cách mõ
- Từ ngày mẹ chết (Since mother died)
- Xem bói (Consulting fortune-teller)