Prof. Ngo Bao Chau translates novel

The novel “Oscar and the Lady in Pink” by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, a French writer, won many prestigious awards. The book, published by Nha Nam Book and Literature Publishing House, will be launched this weekend at lAcA café, 24-26 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hanoi.

Professor Chau and Miss Vietnam Dang Thu Thao will meet with readers at the event.

The novel is about Oscar’s letters sent to God. The boy suffers from blood cancer and faces death. The letters written during his last 12 days show he is lonely but spiritually strong despite the painful reality which his family does not have the courage to face. Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is known by Vietnamese readers through some of his novels, which were published by Nha Nam Book.

Ngo Bao Chau has actively got involved in activities related to publishing and literature such as organizing the bookshelf “The wide open door” with writer Phan Viet, published by Tre Publishing House; writing a children’s book “Ai va Ky o xu sonhung con so tang hinh” with writer Nguyen Phuong Van, and joining some book auctions.

Nha Nam Book will donate part of the proceeds from of the translated novel’s sales and organize an auction to sell two watercolor paintings by artist Nguyen Thanh Binh to support a foundation for supporting children in the uplands. Prof. Ngo Bao Chau is the honorary chairman of this foundation.

Chau was born in Ha Noi in 1972. He won two gold medals at the international mathematics competition Olympiad when he was a high school student and was offered a scholarship to study in Paris. He was the first Vietnamese to win the Fields Medal, the world’s most prestigious award in mathematics.