Author Nguyen Long Nhiem keeps the soul of the countryside through each word

Heavy heart for words

At the age of 85, Mr. Nhiem's ​​movements and gestures are slower, but his clarity and memory are truly admirable.

Every day, he still works diligently at his desk, carefully choosing each word, creating works imbued with the spirit of his homeland.

Mr. Nhiem pursued a career in “cultivating people” but had a talent for writing. Therefore, since 1962, when he was still in university, his name - Long Nhiem - was a familiar pen name appearing in a number of prestigious newspapers and magazines.

Teaching for more than 30 years (1963-1994) was long enough for Mr. Nhiem to accumulate life experience so that when he retired, he could wholeheartedly pursue his burning dream of literature.

The materials in the short stories, poems and jokes written by Mr. Nhiem are all inspired by the simple life in his hometown. The characters in his works exist in real life, skillfully incorporated into literature and poetry. He uses language to praise beauty as well as gently criticize and condemn bad habits and vices.

“The land where I was born, grew up and was attached to is an ancient village called Vang village with many historical and cultural values ​​typical of the Northern Delta. Therefore, I want to preserve the soul of my homeland in every line of words and verses of poetry,” Mr. Nhiem shared.

Mr. Nhiem has written many books, but his first book, “Hoang Xa Village Folk Culture,” published in 2012, has established his writing career. After nearly two years of research and exploration into the birth and development of the ancient village of Hoang Xa, associated with its customs and historical relics, Mr. Nhiem has written a book of more than 300 pages. The book is not only the result of the author’s passion and hard work, but also contains the author’s deep and sincere feelings for his birthplace. Perhaps that is why many Hoang Xa people find sympathy. Some people asked to buy the book, but Mr. Nhiem only gave it away, not for sale.

Impressed with Mr. Nhiem's ​​first book, the Chairman of Thanh Ha District People's Committee at that time, Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan, suggested that he look more broadly and write further. And so he devoted his efforts to collecting and compiling documents to write the book "Thanh Ha Traditional Culture". This is the book that he devoted the most time and money to as editor-in-chief.

To have a comprehensive view, Mr. Nhiem took the trouble to visit each place and meet each person. From there, his love for folk culture was further nurtured, urging him to enthusiastically research and collect information to painstakingly create useful cultural and historical works with many values.

Restless

Mr. Nhiem is likened to a late blooming but fragrant flower of the Hai Duong literary and artistic village. At the age of fifty, he devoted all his heart to satisfying his passion. Thanks to his efforts, dedication and seriousness, his “brainchildren” always create attraction and are recognized and highly appreciated by experts.

Rarely has any writer been named as many times as he was in awards such as the Con Son Literature and Arts Award, the Vietnam Folk Literature and Arts Award, etc. With his knowledge and prestige, Mr. Nhiem was trusted and assigned to participate in compiling the books History of the Thanh Ha District Party Committee, Military History of Thanh Ha District. He was also the editor-in-chief of the book History of the Quyet Thang Commune Party Committee.

He has published 11 books, including 5 short story collections, 4 folk literature collections and 2 poetry collections. Each work, whether short or long, contains the feelings of a native son who devotes all his love to the land where he was born. He is known for his valuable collection of documents on folk culture and traditions of Quyet Thang commune and Thanh Ha land. Therefore, many people come to him for consultation and research materials.

In addition to his passion for writing, Mr. Nhiem also worked for 16 years at Quyet Thang Commune Radio Station. He personally wrote and edited each news bulletin, paying close attention to every word. Thanks to that, the propaganda work in the locality was highly effective. He was also awarded the "For the cause of broadcasting" Medal.

Although he has made a name for himself in the Eastern writing community and is old, Mr. Nhiem’s passion is still strong. Late at night or early in the morning, his desk is still lit. Mr. Nhiem said thoughtfully: “Many nights, when I lie down and think, the idea suddenly comes to me that I have to get up and write it down. Now that I am old, if I don’t write it down right away, I will forget it. Just like cultural values, the soul of the people will fade away and be forgotten over time if not preserved and cherished.”

Mr. Nhiem is planning to release two new books: "Culture of Quyet Thang Commune Clans" and "Laughter of Bac Village".

Although his eyesight is no longer sharp and his hands are shaking, Mr. Nhiem still patiently types each letter. Currently, Mr. Nhiem's ​​hometown is no longer in Thanh Ha district but has become a part of Hai Duong city. He shared that if he has the conditions and health, he will write more about Thanh Dong.

With his tireless efforts and worthy achievements, Mr. Nhiem is one of 10 people honored as outstanding citizens of Hai Duong City in 2024. This is also the motivation for him to continue his journey of preserving and conserving folk culture through poems and words.