The Tale of Kieu: A New Cry of Heart-Rending Pain

A poetic classic that has captivated readers for generations is given a new life in Nguyễn Bình’s translation.​

The Tale of Kiều by Nguyễn Du is a timeless poetic masterpiece, revered as one of the greatest classics in Vietnamese literature. Through Thuý Kiều's years of wandering as a woman in 16th-century China, the epic delves into the complexities of human nature, gender, and sexuality. 

With a new translation that is attentive to the folksy rhythms of the original form, and complete with detailed notes that position the original in its cultural context—The Tale of Kiều will appeal to lovers of a rich story, its couplets lingering and speaking to the most intimate of our human emotions.