Writer Huu Phuong has reached the white clouds

This morning (February 3), Ms. Quach Thieu Hoa, the wife of writer Huu Phuong, who used to be a lecturer at Quang Binh University, called to inform me, "My son, your uncle passed away at 7:17." I was speechless, feeling so sad, so great a loss, because from now on, Quang Binh literature in particular and the whole country in general will forever lose a literary talent, a kind and genuine person.

Writer Huu Phuong. Photo: Thuy Anh

Writer Huu Phuong, whose real name is Nguyen Huu The, was born on December 26, 1949 in Dai Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province. He spent his years studying in Nghe An. This land of studiousness nurtured his dream of becoming a teacher, training many generations to be useful to his country. In 1972, he graduated from Vinh Pedagogical University, after which he returned to his hometown and taught Mathematics at Bac Quang Trach High School.

In 1973, he transferred to teach at Quang Binh Pedagogical College (now Quang Binh University). In 1982, he went to Hue to teach at Binh Tri Thien Pedagogical College. Since 1993, he has worked at the Quang Binh Literature and Arts Association, holding the positions of Vice President of the Association (1993-1998), President of the Association (1998-2009) and Head of the Vietnam Writers Association in Quang Binh from 1993 to 2022.

From a teacher devoted to his profession and a lover of poetry, writer Huu Phuong turned to writing. His first short story “Moonlight in the melon garden” published in the Huong River Magazine made a strong impression on readers. Later, his short stories and novels quickly made him a veteran writer.

Some famous works of writer Huu Phuong.

He left many valuable works for the country's literature. The short story "Bright Moon in the Melon Garden" was the impetus for him to continuously expand the playing field in the Army Literature Magazine, Literature Newspaper and other provincial magazines with stories such as "Mr. Dien Bien", "Old Wharf", "Autumn Fairy Tale", "Holy Man", "Village Teacher", "Night of the Night of the Night-blooming ...

In particular, the short story “Three people on the train platform” was adapted into the film “Doi Cat” (script: Nguyen Quang Lap; director: Nguyen Thanh Van), with many major awards at home and abroad.

Writer Huu Phuong has received many awards such as: the Short Story Contest of the Army Literature Magazine (1989-1990) for the short story "The Night of the Night Flowers Blooming"; the Third Prize of the Second Golden Pen Award of the Ministry of Public Security (1998-2001) for the short story "Purple Sim Flowers"; the Border Guard Command Award for the memoir "Cha Lo, the Rainy Season Comes Early"; the Second Prize of the Third Novel Contest (2006-2010) of the Vietnam Writers Association, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi; the Cup of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the topic of agriculture, rural areas, and Vietnamese farmers in the period 1982-2011 for the novel "Summer Horizon"; the Second Prize of the Fifth Novel Contest (2016-2019) organized by the Vietnam Writers Association for the novel "Quay dau lai la bo"; and the Luu Trong Lu awards for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth times.

Writer Huu Phuong once confided: "I wrote "Summer Horizon" not to write about war, but through war to talk about the fates of my homeland, about the strength of the rear against the great front line."

That’s right! “Summer Horizon” brings together so many human fates. Each human fate is a painful, bitter mark. The war destroyed so many lives and facilities but could not destroy the faith and hope of the people of Quang Binh. In hardship, difficulty, and loss, the people here remained steadfast and indomitable. They, the people who always put the national mission on their shoulders, determined to participate and serve the battlefield at all costs. They fully manifested the qualities and personalities of ordinary people: achievements, glory, joy, sadness, failure, holiness, infamy, hatred, forgiveness…

“Summer Horizon” by writer Huu Phuong is therefore a valuable novel in terms of documentation, carrying the narrative quality of a historical period of pure, single-line realist literature; although constrained and dominated by socialist realist poetics, it still truly reflects the human condition as well as the resilience of the people of Central Vietnam during the years of bombs and bullets. The fact that “Summer Horizon” won the Second Prize of the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 2011 and the Golden Rice Cup awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proven the abundant writing power of writer Huu Phuong in that flow.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu (left) and writer Huu Phuong at a literary discussion about the novel "Summer Horizon".

If “Summer Horizon” still carries a strong epic inspiration, then in “Turn Back to Shore”, blending in with the movement of post-war literature, with the change in concepts and artistic thoughts, the themes of war and soldiers were illuminated by him from the perspective of world affairs and private life. The conflicts and irreconcilable hatred between one side and the other were placed in the context of family relationships and blood ties.

“Quay Uu Lai La Bo” stands firmly on the side of human suffering, sinking into the depths of war, to make straight what the war has caused. The thoughts of the characters in the novel are polyphonic dialogues. It is the gaps and differences in the inner world of the characters that help the writer reflect deeply, discuss openly, multi-dimensionally, and reveal thoughts and artistic views on war from a post-war perspective.

War can divide a country, a family, love, friends, etc., but love will unite and resolve all barriers, contradictions, and conflicts. Sharing the horror and extreme violence of war is not to further swell the wound that Huu Phuong wants to point out: Any war causes destruction, loss, and tragedy for people on either side. The novel "Quay dau lai la bo" has affirmed his forte and skill in looking deeply and explaining the brutality of war through the fates of trauma and tragedy. Therefore, readers consider "Quay dau lai la bo" to be one of his successful novels, affirming his writing power and abundant creative energy.

During the days of fighting illness, writer Huu Phuong still did not stop writing. He completed the novel, which was licensed by the Literature Publishing House, but before the book could be printed, he hurriedly flew away. Two novels about the sandy land during the war, with Bao Ninh village as the setting, are still unfinished. This is truly a loss, a big gap in Quang Binh literature in particular and the whole country in general.

Hoang Thuy Anh