Why did it take thirty years for Nguyễn Bình Phương’s The Young Die Old to finally enter the Anglosphere?

Three decades on, what are the barriers keeping Vietnamese authors from entering the Western literary sphere?

How is magical realism used as a tool for political allegory, and how has allegory been used to write about war?

What are the limits of magical realism across time, language, and cultures?

Join Tagore’s Salon and Major Books in exploring these questions with Kim Trần, the editor and publisher of Major Books. All are welcome; this discussion assumes no preexisting knowledge of Vietnamese literature or language.

Event details

Date: Thursday 16 July
Time: 7pm
Tickets: £6. Book via Ticket Tailor.

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About the speakers

Kim Trần

Kim Trần is the co-founder, CEO, and publisher of Major Books, a London-based independent press dedicated to bringing Vietnamese literature to English-speaking readers through translation, thoughtful design, and cultural exchange. Kim’s work brilliantly bridges the worlds of publishing, culture, and advocacy across the UK and Vietnam. In 2025, she was shortlisted for Leader of the Year at the FutureBook Awards, recognizing her innovation and impact within the publishing industry.

Nguyễn Bình Phương (author)

Nguyễn Bình Phương, born in the northern mountainous region of Thái Nguyên, is a prominent contemporary novelist and poet. Phương has authored six novels and five poetry collections, with notable works including The Young Die Old and Mình và Họ (which was first published uncensored in America, untranslated, under the title Xe Lên Xe Xuống). His writing is a masterclass in blending magical realism with psychological depth, frequently exploring themes of memory, identity, and post-war trauma.