The Role of the Tu Luc Literary Group (1932-1945) in the Evolution of the Vietnamese Novel in the Early 20th Century

In a society undergoing profound transformation after the establishment of colonial rule, a new literature emerged in Vietnam, with new literary genres including the novel. Strongly influenced by French literature, this literature demonstrates the ability of contemporary Vietnamese writers to delve deeply in their ideas, exploring their feelings in a freer and more expansive literary genre. The evolution of the novel in quoc ngu was inseparable from the activities of the Tu Luc [Autonomous] Literary Group, one of the most important literary circles of the 1930s. This group brought together a large number of writers of the new generation, and set itself the goal of discarding the vestiges of traditionalist society and promoting, a contrario, the new values of individualism. In this article, we propose to observe the place of the Tu Luc group, as it moved from the romantic current to realist inspiration, in the evolution of the Vietnamese novel during the first half of the twentieth century.