VIET Thanh Nguyen is a writer who has masterfully explored the complexities of identity, displacement and the human cost of war. His work, spanning fiction and non-fiction, delves into the lives of individuals shaped by historical and cultural upheaval. Born in Vietnam and raised in the United States, Nguyen’s perspective is informed by his dual heritage, and his writing often bridges the chasm between these two worlds.
Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel, “The Sympathizer,” was published in 2015. It’s a tour de force of literary innovation and political critique. The novel begins in the waning days of the Vietnam War, following a narrator who is a communist double agent embedded in the South Vietnamese government. As the story unfolds, the narrator flees to the United States, where he grapples with his fractured identity and the moral ambiguity of his work as a spy.
Nguyen telescopes the narrator as a man of “two minds,” an identity rooted in duality and conflict. The narrator confesses early on: “I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces. Perhaps not surprisingly, I am also a man of two minds.”
This duality reflects the immigrant experience, where cultural assimilation often demands a shedding of the past, like a second skin, while navigating new terrains. The narrator’s role as a spy mirrors this negotiation, as he constantly shifts his identity to survive. He is a chameleon for the 21st century.
Nguyen’s prose is sharp, satirical and laced with dark humor. The novel blasts American imperialism and the romanticization of war, particularly through its biting portrayal of Hollywood’s depiction of Vietnam. In one memorable scene, the narrator is hired as a consultant on an American war film, leading to a scathing commentary on the erasure of Vietnamese voices: “We were extras in our own story, as interchangeable as piles of sandbags.”
The “Sympathizer” is also a study in introspection, exploring guilt and the human cost of ideology. The narrator’s confessions reveal a man haunted by his actions, caught in a web of loyalty and betrayal.
Nguyen’s short story collection, “The Refugees,” was published in 2017. It complements The “Sympathizer” by offering a quieter, more intimate exploration of displacement and belonging. The collection comprises eight stories, each focusing on Vietnamese refugees grappling with their pasts and their place in their new homeland.
One standout story, “The Other Man,” follows Liem, a young Vietnamese refugee adjusting to life with a gay couple in San Francisco. The story explores themes of identity and acceptance as Liem discovers parts of himself he had suppressed: “He had always thought that his life, his true life, was on hold. But perhaps this was his life now, not a prelude or an interlude but the actual thing.”
Another powerful story, “Fatherland,” contrasts the lives of two families divided by the war. One family remains in Vietnam, while the other resettles in the United States. The story is poignant in its exploration of envy, longing, and the myths we create about “home.”
Nguyen’s prose in “The Refugees” is understated yet profound, offering rich character studies and emotional depth. His stories highlight the resilience of his characters while never shying away from their struggles. Ripples of meaning radiate from these stories — like waves in the sea.
A sequel to “The Sympathizer,” “The Committed” (2021) takes the narrator to France, where he continues his journey as a man wrestling with his identity and the traumas of his past. This novel shifts its focus to the ideological arenas of colonialism, capitalism and political corruption.
In Paris, the narrator becomes involved in the drug trade, a metaphor for the commodification of revolution and human suffering. The novel is dense with philosophical musings, as the narrator reflects on the nature of freedom and power: “The oppressed will always dream of becoming the oppressor. That is the curse of history.”
“The Committed” expands Nguyen’s exploration of postcolonial identity, examining how Western ideologies continue to shape the lives of the displaced. While darker and more chaotic than its predecessor, the novel retains Nguyen’s incisive critique and dark humor.
In a way, Nguyen’s fiction is like Graham Green’s “political” novels but with a postcolonial bent. Whether it’s the narrator of “The Sympathizer” or the characters in “The Refugees,” his protagonists navigate fractured identities. They are torn between past and present, East and West, ideology and morality.
He captures perfectly the alienation of immigrants and refugees, portraying their struggles to find community while carrying the weight of their histories. His works also delve into how personal and collective traumas shape identity and relationships. Memory, both as a burden and a connection to the past, is a recurring motif.
From American imperialism in “The Sympathizer” to French colonialism in “The Committed,” Nguyen interrogates systems of oppression and their lasting impacts. His vision is clear-eyed, his criticism unblinking.
Nguyen’s essay collection, “Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War” (2016), complements his fiction by examining how wars are remembered and who gets to tell their stories. He points out the American-centric narrative of the Vietnam War, advocating for a more inclusive memory that acknowledges Vietnamese perspectives.
In the book, Nguyen argues: “All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory.” This insight underscores his fiction, where memory often serves as a battleground for identity and meaning.
Nguyen took a PhD at the University of Southern California, where he now teaches. His writing is marked by sharp wit, lyrical prose and intellectual rigor. He weaves historical and political insights seamlessly into his narratives, challenging readers to engage deeply with the issues he raises. His use of satire, particularly in “The Sympathizer,” adds a layer of complexity, making his critique both entertaining and unsettling.
His works are a testament to the power of literature to illuminate hidden histories and amplify marginalized voices. His novels and stories are not only compelling narratives but also meditations on identity, memory and power. Nguyen has carved a unique space in contemporary literature, offering readers a lens through which to understand the enduring legacies of war and displacement.
The books of Viet Thanh Nguyen are available at the National Bookstore and Fully Booked.
The Manilla Times | Place and Displacement in the Fiction of Viet Thanh Nguyen
