Synopsis
"An essential book for anyone invested, not only in Vietnamese literature, but the historic power of the national epic...and its perennial place in our species' efforts toward self-knowledge. Tim Allen's new translation offers clean fluidity while honouring the original's varied rhythms and jagged lyricism. A luminous feat." --Ocean Vuong
A stunning new translation of the legendary Vietnamese epic poem, now for the first time in Penguin Classics
Considered the greatest literary achievement in Vietnamese, The Song of Kieu tells the story of the beautiful Vuong Thuy Kieu, who agrees to a financially profitable marriage in order to save her family from ruinous debts, but is tricked into working in a brothel. Her tragic life involves jealous wives, slavery, war, poverty, and time as a nun. Adapted from a seventeenth-century Chinese novel, Jin Yun Qiao, written by an unknown writer under the pseudonym Qingxin Cairen, author Nguyen Du upended the plot's traditional love story by conveying the social and political upheavals at the end of the 18th century in Vietnam.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Nguyen Du (January 3, 1765-September 16, 1820) is a celebrated Vietnamese poet who wrote in chu nom, the ancient writing script of Vietnam. He is most known for writing the epic poem The Song of Kieu.
Timothy Allen currently teaches English at the University of Liverpool. He has published translations from several languages, including Spanish and Vietnamese. In 2008, he won a Stephen Spender prize for his translation of the opening lines of the great Vietnamese verse-novel, Kieu: A New Lament for a Broken Heart by Nguyen Du, and was later awarded a Hawthornden Fellowship which enabled him to complete his reworking of the whole poem.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for The Song of Kieu: A New Lament
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu: A New Lament
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_472024921
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu: A New Lament
Seller: Open Books, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Previous seller's sticker on front cover. Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and creative capitalization of books. Seller Inventory # mon0000843275
Stock Image
Song of Kieu : A New Lament
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 33859721-n
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu: A New Lament
Seller: Lakeside Books, Benton Harbor, MI, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Brand New! Not Overstocks or Low Quality Book Club Editions! Direct From the Publisher! We're not a giant, faceless warehouse organization! We're a small town bookstore that loves books and loves it's customers! Buy from Lakeside Books! Seller Inventory # OTF-S-9780241360668
Seller Image
The Song of Kieu
Seller: Rarewaves USA, OSWEGO, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: New. 'An essential book for anyone invested, not only in Vietnamese literature, but the historic power of the national epic . . . and its perennial place in our species' efforts toward self-knowledge. Tim Allen's new translation offers clean fluidity while honouring the original's varied rhythms and jagged lyricism. A luminous feat.' Ocean Vuong, winner of the 2017 T. S. Eliot PrizeEver since it exploded into Vietnam's cultural life two centuries ago, The Song of Kieu has been one of that nation's most beloved and defining central myths. It recounts the tragic fate of the beautiful singer and poet Kieu, who agrees to marry to save her family from debt but is tricked into working in a brothel. Over the course of a swift-moving story involving kidnap, war, jealous wives and rebel heroes, she will become a queen, wife, nun, slave, victim and avenger, surviving through the strength of her words and her wits alone.Translated with an introduction by Timothy Allen. Seller Inventory # LU-9780241360668
Seller Image
Song of Kieu : A New Lament
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 33859721
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu Format: Trade Paper
Seller: INDOO, Avenel, NJ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread copy in mint condition. Seller Inventory # RH9780241360668
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu Format: Trade Paper
Seller: INDOO, Avenel, NJ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 9780241360668
Seller Image
The Song of Kieu (Paperback)
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd, London, 2019
ISBN 10: 0241360668
ISBN 13: 9780241360668
New
Paperback
Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. The greatest classic of Vietnamese literature in a stunning new verse translation.\"This manuscript is ancient, priceless,bamboo-rolled, perfumed with musty spices.Sit comfortably by this good light, that you may learnthe hard-won lesson that these characters contain.\"The Song of Kieu is the greatest classic of Vietnamese literature. It tells the story of the beautiful Vuong Thoy Kieu, who agrees to a financially profitable marriage in order to save her family from ruinous debts, but is tricked into working in a brothel. Her tragic career involves jealous wives, slavery, war, poverty and she becomes a nun twice. There are high points, such as when she teams up with a muscle-bound, tender-hearted rebel hero who makes her his queen and summons all her wrongdoers to account, but the ending is bittersweet.'To the Vietnamese people themselves, it is much more than just a glorious heirloom from their literary past,' says Professor Alexander Woodside of the University of British Columbia. 'It has become a kind of continuing emotional laboratory in which all the great and timeless issues of personal morality and political obligation are tested and resolved.''For elegance and sheer readability I doubt if it could be equalled. English readers already familiar with Kieu will be delighted by its musicality. And those who have not previously encountered Kieu will wonder how such a masterpiece could so long have eluded them.' John Keay Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780241360668
Stock Image
The Song of Kieu
Seller: Books Puddle, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 26376280573