According to information from the Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam, at 5 p.m. on 28/8 (Swedish time), the writer will launch and sign copies of his book, "Co hai con meo ngoi ben cua so" (Two Cats Sitting by the Window), marking its first translation and publication in Swedish. The discussion with the writer will continue at 2 p.m. on 29 and 30/8.
Nguyen Nhat Anh wrote the work in the allegorical fable genre, narrating the friendship between two animals traditionally considered "mortal enemies": a cat and a mouse. The book, first released in 2012, has been continuously reprinted over the years.
The author's interactive sessions are part of the "Sagor från Vietnam" (Vietnamese Folk Tales) program. The event also includes bilingual storytelling, creative workshops, and an exhibition of Vietnamese children's books.
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The cover of "Co hai con meo ngoi ben cua so", 30th edition in 2018. The Swedish translation was done by Hien Ekeroth and Bokförlaget Barnens Val. Photo: Tre Publishing House |
Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh has many best-selling books translated into English, Korean, Japanese, and Thai. Examples include "Mat Biec" (Japanese edition - 2004), "Cho toi xin mot ve di tuoi tho" (Thai - 2011, Korean - 2013, English - 2014, Japanese - 2020), "Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh" (Japanese - 2017, English - 2018), and "Di qua hoa cuc" (Japanese - 2020).
In an exchange in TP HCM in 5/2025, Nguyen Minh Nhut, former director of Tre Publishing House, stated that Nguyen Nhat Anh is among the few Vietnamese authors beloved and translated by foreign translators. According to Nguyen Minh Nhut, the author's stories are released abroad not through diplomatic channels, but due to genuine market demand.
A publishing house in Thailand once invited Nguyen Nhat Anh to meet readers in that country. "They thoroughly researched the data, assessing that this author could bring revenue and profit, before deciding to translate", Nhut said.
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Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh at an event in 6. Photo: Mai Nhut |
At age 71, writer Nguyen Nhat Anh maintains the philosophy: "A day without writing feels incomplete". He consistently writes a number of pages daily when diligent, or at least half a page or a few lines. This steady pace allows him to introduce one book each year. In 7, the author released "Chuyen tinh thi tran" (Town Love Story), just over half a year after "Co be hang xom va bon vien keo" (The Neighbor Girl and Four Candies).
Nguyen Nhat Anh was born in Thang Binh, Quang Nam (now Da Nang). He moved to TP HCM in 1973, studied pedagogy, and graduated in 1976. In addition to five poetry collections, more than 30 comic books, and 12 film scripts, the author has published over 100 prose works on topics for teenagers, young adults, and children. He also published three sports commentary collections and over 50 love advice collections under various pseudonyms. The Vietnam Book of Records Center recognized him as the writer with the most works for children in the country.
Many of the writer's books have been adapted for the screen, such as "Ao trang san truong" (1994) based on the story "Nu sinh" (Schoolgirl), the television series "Chu be rac roi" (The Troublesome Boy) (1998), "Kinh van hoa" (Kaleidoscope) (2004), and the film "Mat Biec" (Dreamy Eyes) (2019). At a book signing event in mid-6, he announced that five of his works had been optioned by producers for film adaptations, including "Cho toi xin mot ve di tuoi tho" (Give Me a Ticket to Childhood), "Ngoi khoc tren cay" (Sitting Crying on a Tree), and "Con chim xanh biec bay ve" (The Blue Bird Flies Back).
