The General Retires

Written by one of the most influential and celebrated voices in modern Vietnamese literature, the collection uses sharp prose and deep insight to explore the moral challenges of a changing society. In the title story, The General Retires, Nguyên Huy Thiep captures the heartbreak of an old war hero who returns from the battlefield only to find himself alienated by the hollow pragmatism of a world he no longer recognizes. The collection showcases Thiep's incredible range. In Without a King, he offers a gritty look at a family struggling to survive in a crowded Hanoi tenement, while The Woodcutters takes readers on a raw journey into the mountains to face the primal struggle between man and nature. Stories such as Chastity and Lessons from the Countryside further explore the delicate balance between innocence and the pressures of society. Together, these nine powerful stories do more than just describe a country; they expose its soul, making this book essential for anyone who wants to understand the heartbeat of modern Vietnam. The General Retires is the first of two short-stories collections by Nguyén Huy Thiep published by Bookworm and The Gioi Publishers, it is released alongside its companion volume, The Winds of Hua Tat.

Author: Nguyễn Huy Thiệp

Publisher: Thế Giới Publishers & Bookworm

Released Date: 2026

ISBN: 9786320207077