Life

Timeline

  1. 1915

    Born in Thị Cầu, Bắc Ninh

    Nguyễn Văn Toán was born in the Kinh Bắc region — homeland of quan họ, festivals, and communal house festivals.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  2. Thuở nhỏ

    Learned Chinese characters from mother

    His mother worked as a rice vendor, in the evening she both ground rice and taught Chinese characters. Later, he studied with teacher Chu Kinh Phượng — a renowned master of the Kinh Bắc region.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  3. 1934

    Began writing

    Officially entered the path of literary creation.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  4. 1935

    Debut story: Chiếc Nhẫn Quý

    First short story published in Tiểu thuyết Thứ Bảy newspaper — marking the beginning of a writing career lasting seven decades.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  5. 1957

    Trong Lũy Tre Xanh & Tiết Tháo Một Thời

    Published first collection of short stories and novel — opening up the trend of customary novels.

  6. 1958

    Phong Lưu Đồng Ruộng, Bó Hoa Bắc Việt, Ký Vãng

    Three research works were published — praising the beauty of village life and the qualities of Vietnamese women.

  7. 1962

    Nếp Xưa

    A customary novel evaluated as brilliant and captivating, yet still maintaining serious academic rigor.

  8. 1963–1966

    Director of the Department of Psychological Warfare

    Held the position of director in the Psychological Warfare Department of the Republic of Vietnam. This timeframe is recorded by only one source, and does not match his own memoir — where he wrote that until 1965 he was still working at the Tax Department.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  9. 1965–1971

    Librarian, Ministry of Information

    Left the Tax Department for the Ministry of Information in 1965, in charge of the library. In Nhớ Thương, written in 1970, he stated that he was still doing this work.

    Sources: Nhớ Thương (1970), trang 155 · NXB Trẻ

  10. 20/12/1969

    Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Uẩn passed away

    She passed away at Grall Hospital, Sài Gòn at the age of 46, after 30 years of living together, leaving him and 11 children.

    Sources: Nhớ Thương (1970), trang 8 và 221

  11. 1970

    Memoir Nhớ Thương

    In the months after her death, he wrote "Nhớ Thương" — the memoir he spoke to her. The book was privately printed at Chí-Thanh Printing House, 156 Hòa-Hưng, Sài Gòn: no publisher, no cover price, not for sale. He printed it to give to friends and family, each child kept a copy.

    Sources: Nhớ Thương (1970), trang bìa và trang cuối

  12. 1972–1973

    Vice Chairman, Council of Culture and Education

    Served as Vice Chairman of the Council of Culture and Education.

    Sources: NXB Trẻ

  13. 2004

    Toan Ánh Toàn Tập — NXB Trẻ

    Signed an exclusive contract with NXB Trẻ to publish "Toan Ánh toàn tập" — comprising 124 published and unpublished works. The contract was valid from 2004–2015 and has now expired.

    Sources: Tuổi Trẻ (24/06/2004) · Nhân Dân (24/06/2004)

  14. 14/05/2009

    Breathed his last

    Writer Toan Ánh passed away at 23:50 at Bệnh viện Nhân dân Gia Định, TP.HCM, aged 94, after more than ten days of illness.

    Sources: VnExpress · Tuổi Trẻ · Sài Gòn Giải Phóng · NXB Trẻ