Vietnamese writer Kim Lan, best known for short stories about country life in northern Vietnam, died on July 20 in Hanoi at the age of 87.

The writer was born in 1920 to a farming family in Tu Son district, Bac Ninh province. After primary school, he became a lacquer painter.

He launched his writing career when he published his first novel Dua Con Nguoi Vo Le (Son of a Concubine) in 1941 in Hanoi. Later, he wrote a series of short stories, mostly related to his personal recollections of country life.

Lan received public attention for works such as Lang (Village) in 1949, Nen Vo Nen Chong (Becoming Husband and Wife) in 1955 and Con Cho Xau xi (The Freakish Dog) in 1960, in which he portrayed peasants’ experience of colonisation. In doing so, Lan vividly narrated Vietnam’s countryside traditions and villagers’ complicated attitudes regarding social and familial relationships.

Lan was also known for his performance in the film Lang Vu Dai Ngay Ay (Vu Dai Village) based on the work of Vietnamese realist author Nam Cao. In the film, Lan played the role of Lao Hac, a peasant struggling during the Vietnamese feudal and colonial period 1930-1945. He also acted in the film ‘Vo Chong A Phu’ (Couple of A Phu) based on the short story of the same name of writer To Hoai.

He was presented the State Prize in 2001 for his contribution to the nation’s literature.

Lan spent most of his life in Hanoi. He has four children who are all painters: Nguyen Thi Hien, Nguyen Thanh Chuong, Nguyen Manh Duc and Nguyen Manh Tuan.

Source: Nhandan