Vietnamese writer wins grand French literary prize

Vietnamese writer Bui Ngoc Tan won the grand prize at the French literature festival Livre&Mer (Book&Sea) for his novel Bien va Chim Boi Ca (The Sea and the Kingfisher).
Vietnamese writer Bui Ngoc Tan won the grand prize at the Frenchliterature festival Livre&Mer (Book&Sea) for his novel Bien vaChim Boi Ca (The Sea and the Kingfisher).

The book, which was translated into French by Ha Tay and called La Meret Le Martin-Pecheur, beat five other books in the final round.

Published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House in 2009,the book documents the life of Vietnamese fishermen working for aState-owned fishing enterprise, where life is a constant struggle tomake ends meet.

"With his beautiful poetic prose, Bui NgocTan brings us to where we have never been, and when we close the book,we are changed and for the best," says the festival's website.

Born in 1934 in Hai Phong City , Tan began writing for periodicals and newspapers at the age of 20.

The French version of his award-winning book La Mer et leMartin-Pecheur was published by Aube Publishing House last year. This ishis second published novel. Une vie de Chien (Unlucky Life) came out in2007.

The festival Livre&Mer was launched in 1985 byHenri Queffelec (1910-92), considered one of the best maritime novelistsof the 20th century writing in French.

The 28th festivalawards will be presented on April 6 in Concarneau city, in the west ofFrance . Translator Ha Tay will receive the prize on behalf of Tan.-VNA

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