Nhất Linh

Nhất Linh (1906 – 1963) was the pen name of Nguyễn Tường Tam, a prominent Vietnamese novelist, journalist, playwright, and political activist. He is considered a leading figure in the Tự Lực Văn Đoàn (Self-Reliance Literary Group), a Vietnamese literary movement of the 1930s that advocated for modernization, Westernization, and individual freedom.

Nhất Linh's works often explored themes of social change, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the struggles of individuals against societal constraints. He was known for his realistic and accessible writing style, which made his works popular among a wide readership. Some of his notable works include the novels Đoạn Tuyệt (Breaking Away), Lạnh Lùng (Indifference), and Đi Tây (Going to the West).

Beyond his literary contributions, Nhất Linh was also actively involved in Vietnamese politics. He founded the Đại Việt Dân Chính Đảng (Greater Vietnam Nationalist Party), a political organization that advocated for Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule. After the partition of Vietnam in 1954, he remained in South Vietnam and continued to be involved in political activities. He committed suicide in 1963 in protest against the policies of the Ngô Đình Diệm government.