Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn
Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn (born 9 March 1945 in Sơn Tây in Hanoi) is a Vietnamese-Canadian writer, essayist, and television personality.
Nguyễn Ngọc Ngan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn 9 March 1945 Sơn Tây, French Indochina |
| Occupation | Writer, teacher, MC |
| Language | Vietnamese, English |
| Nationality | Vietnam Canada |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Education | Nguyễn Bá Tòng School Chu Văn An High School Conservatory of Ho Chi Minh City |
| Alma mater | The University of Saigon |
| Genre | Short story, novel, drama |
| Notable works | The Will Of Heaven |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Lê Thị Tuyết Lan (1970–1978) Trần Ngọc Diệp (1982–) |
| Children | Two sons |
| Relatives | Nguyễn Ngọc Trọng (younger brother) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | South Vietnam |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1970–1975 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
He was born in Sơn Tây, Vietnam, but his family moved to South Vietnam when the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam in 1954. After university and service in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Ngạn was imprisoned by the victorious communists after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and did forced labour in a re-education camp until 1978, an experience described in his autobiography, The Will Of Heaven.[1]
After his release, Ngạn escaped by boat to Malaysia in 1979; during the closing stages of the journey, storms hit the boat and knocked it over within sight of land. Ngạn's wife and child drowned and he was pulled unconscious from the water. He was sponsored by the Canadian government and brought to Vancouver in 1980, moving to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and in 1985 to Toronto.[2]
Ngạn is known for co-hosting Thuy Nga's Paris by Night with Vietnamese personality Kỳ Duyên. He co-authored Ballad Of Mulan and The Blind Man and the Cripple – Orchard Village.
References
- Huu Khoa Le, Littérature vietnamienne: la part d'exil, p. 39 (Groupe de recherche sur l'Extrême-Orient contemporain, 1995); ISBN 2-85399-361-2
- Yale University, Southeast Asia Studies, The Vietnam Forum (1985).
Sources
- Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn with E.E. Richey, The Will of Heaven: A Story of One Vietnamese and the End of His World, Dutton, 1982: ISBN 0-525-03061-1
