Historian Vương Hồng Sển’s books on Southern Vietnam released
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Loading... - Yaeko Hirata
- 11 Sep 2024
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A series of ten books by the late historian and cultural researcher Vương Hồng Sển, focusing on the history and culture of southern Vietnam, has been released by HCM City's Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House. These publications delve into the development of the South through different periods, offering readers a comprehensive view of the region's rich heritage.
Key titles in the series include Sài Gòn Năm Xưa (Saigon in the Past), Sài Gòn Tả Pí Lù (The Stories of Saigonese), and Tự Vị Tiếng Nói Miền Nam (The Southern Dialect Dictionary). These books provide a vivid portrayal of Saigon (now Hồ Chí Minh City), its people, culture, and lifestyle, reflecting Sển's deep understanding and appreciation of the region.
In collaboration with Sển's family, Trẻ Publishing House has reprinted and released these works, ensuring that his contributions to Vietnamese history and culture continue to reach new generations. Cultural researcher Nguyễn Hiến Lê praised Sển's books as cinematic in their ability to capture the essence of the South, offering readers an opportunity to explore the region's history and cultural evolution.
Born in 1902 in Sóc Trăng Province, Sển was not only a historian but also an avid antique collector. He donated his collection of 840 antiques to public museums, and his house in Bình Thạnh District, Hồ Chí Minh City, has become a tourist destination, recognized as an "architectural monument" in 2003. The house, which still stands with its original architecture, showcases many ancient objects, paintings, and photos, preserving the legacy of Sển's life and work.
Two of his notable books, Truyện Cười Cố Nhân (Folk Jokes) and Hồi Ký 50 Năm Mê Hát (Memories of 50 Years Singing), were recently reprinted and have garnered interest from young readers, particularly university students studying literature, cinema, and theatre. Truyện Cười Cố Nhân, first published in 1972, explores the habits and humorous aspects of southern culture, while Hồi Ký 50 Năm Mê Hát documents the history and evolution of cải lương (reformed opera), a traditional southern theatre genre that originated in the early 1920s in the Mekong River Delta. The book includes pictures and paintings collected by Sển, adding visual depth to his written narratives.
