The image of Nguyen Anh – Gia Long in the historical novel of Truong An

Abstract

There are not many historical novels written about the Nguyen Dynasty. Therefore, along with some writers such as Tran Thuy Mai, Nguyen Huu Nam, Truong An has impressed readers with a trilogy of historical novels about the Nguyen Dynasty: Thien Ha Chi Vuong (King of the world), Vu Tich (autumn rain) and Ho Duong. Choosing to tell about Nguyen Anh from an outside perspective, all three novels by Truong An have contributed to reconstructing a portrait of Nguyen Anh, from when he was a child who had to run away to survive, until he became the first emperor of a unified Vietnam. This article clarifies the image of Nguyen Anh – Gia Long in Truong An’s historical novel through three aspects, corresponding to the three stages of the historical character Nguyen Anh’s life: Noan – a child not prepared to be an emperor; Nguyen Anh – the creator from destruction and ruin, and Gia Long – the king of ambition and challenge.