Cover of the book (Photo courtesy of the publisher) HCM City (VNA) - Vietnamese-German writer Isabelle Muller’s best-sellingbook Loan-Aus dem Leben eines Phoenix (Loan-From a Lifeof Phoenix) hasbeen published in Vietnamese, entitled "Tu Cuoc Doi Cua Mot Con Chim PhuongHoang" by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House.
The book tells thestory of Loan, real name Dau Thi Cuc, a Vietnamese woman from the centralprovince of Ha Tinh, who escaped an arranged marriage at just 12 years oldto set out on a long and often dangerous journey through Vietnam, Algeria andFrance to make a life for herself.
The book describes how sheleft Vietnam in 1955 and moved to live in Algeria first and thenFrance.
Loan is subject todiscrimination and hostility because of the colour of her skin.
Despite living in abjectpoverty, she raises her five children, always emphasising that education is agreat privilege.
Muller, Loan’s youngestdaughter, tells a lively story of an ordinary woman with whom women readers,especially in Vietnam, can empathise with.
Mullersaid the English version of the book is finished and is waiting for apublisher.
Muller isthe founder of LO-ANH Foundation, which has launched many educational projects,including the construction and expansion of kindergartens, schools and boardinghouses and financial care for poor ethnic children in the remotest areas of thenorthern mountain provinces of Ha Giang and Cao Bang.
Its latest project is in HaGiang, where they are offering new shoes, clothes, blankets, mattresses,and mats to more than 300 children in Xin Cai Secondary School.
In the 1990s, Mullertravelled often with her mother back to Vietnam to learn more about her roots.
She saiddonations are raised through events she organises, such as lectures on her newbooks or presentations by the foundation.-VNA
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