VOlUME 05 ISSUE 03 March 2026
Truong Thi Linh
Falculty of Education, Thu Dau Mot University
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i3n03Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
Southern Vietnamese literature in the first half of the 20th century has recently attracted considerable attention from researchers. However, the themes, topics, and structure of historical novels in this period have not received adequate attention. This article uses an analytical-synthetic method to examine the characteristics and features through careful reading of primary (first-published novels) and secondary (later-published novels in anthologies) sources, developing the research problem. The question posed is: are the themes, topics, and structure of historical novels similar to and different from other genres, such as socio-psychological novels, detective novels, and chivalrous novels? This highlights the crucial and pivotal role of works from this period in the development of modern Vietnamese literature.
KEYWORDS:Southern Vietnamese novels, historical novels, themes, topics, and structure
REFERENCES
1) Bui, V. L. (1998). Vietnamese historical novels from the early twentieth century to 1945: Emergence and characteristics [Tiểu thuyết lịch sử Việt Nam từ đầu thế kỷ XX đến 1945 (Diện mạo và đặc điểm)]. Doctoral dissertation, Hanoi National University of Education.
2) Do, D. H., Nguyen, H. C., Phung, V. T., & Tran, H. T. (2004). Dictionary of literature (new edition) [Từ điển văn học (Bộ mới)]. The Gioi Publishing House.
3) Ho, B. C. (1924). Nam Cuc Tinh Huy [Nam Cực Tinh Huy]. Retrieved from http://hobieuchanh.com
4) Historical novel. (n.d.). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/historical-novel
5) Le, B. H., Tran, D. S., & Nguyen, K. P. (1999). Dictionary of literary terms [Từ điển thuật ngữ văn học]. Literature Publishing House.
6) Nguyen, V. D. (2012). Vietnamese contemporary historical novels: Some principal trends. Social Sciences Information Review, 6(1).
7) Nguyen, C. S. (2015). Vietnam Le Thai To [Việt Nam Lê Thái Tổ]. Hong Duc Publishing House.
8) Nguyen, T. T. (2014). The trend of “popularization” and the genre of chivalric novels in Southern Vietnam: Through Trinh Hiep Luong My and Nghia Hiep Ky Duyen by Nguyen Chanh Sat [Xu hướng “bình dân hóa” và thể loại tiểu thuyết hiệp nghĩa ở Nam Bộ: Trường hợp Trinh hiệp lưỡng mỹ và Nghĩa hiệp kỳ duyên của Nguyễn Chánh Sắt]. Literary Studies Journal, vol 3/2014.
9) Phan, C. D. (2006). Selected works of Phan Cu De (Vol. 1) [Tuyển tập Phan Cự Đệ]. Education Publishing House.
10) Pham, M. K. (2015). Vietnamese heroes [Việt Nam anh kiệt]. Hong Duc Publishing House.
11) Pham, M. K. (1932). Tien Le van Mat [Tiền Lê vận Mạt]. Tin Duc Thu Xa.
12) Phuong, L. (Ed.), Tran, D. S., Nguyen, X. N., Le, N. T., La, K. H., & Thanh, T. T. B. (1997). Literary theory [Lý luận văn học]. Education Publishing House.
13) Tan, D. T. (1930). Gia Long’s escape from the country [Gia Long tẩu quốc]. Bao Ton Printing House.
14) Tran, N. (1997). Vietnamese novels written in classical Chinese characters [Tiểu thuyết chữ Hán Việt Nam]. Retrieved from http://www.hannom.org.vn/web/tchn/data/9703.htm
15) Trieu, D. (1964). Some opinions on historical novels after reading the book The He District Uprising [Mấy ý kiến về tiểu thuyết lịch sử qua việc đọc cuốn Quận He Khởi nghĩa]. Literature Magazine.
16) Truong, T. L. (2023). The Structure of Southern Novels in the Early Twentieth Century [Kết cấu tiểu thuyết Nam Bộ nửa đầu thế kỷ XX]. TNU Journal of Science and Technology, 228(16), 236–243.
Cite this Article:Linh, T. T. (2026). Themes, Topics, and Structure of Historical Novels in Southern Vietnam in the Early Twentieth Century. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(3), 454-459. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i3n03