TRĂNG HUYẾT - Trang 1248

to realise that ‘the truth frees us and reconciles us.’
As I have already indicated, I have decided to take on trust Uoc’s written
assurance to me that he has not ‘betrayed’ the form and intent of my
original novel. I must reserve a full and measured judgement until such
time as I know precisely word by word what he has written. Meantime I am
pursuing my own course for SAIGON to be translated separately into
Vietnamese exactly as I wrote it without any additions — and for it to be
published openly by a Vietnamese publisher in Vietnam. As I write in
December 2004, there have been some initial inconclusive discussions in
Hanoi about this on my behalf. I do not yet know whether this will happen
sooner or later — or indeed ever.
What is beyond doubt is that Nguyen Uoc has applied himself with passion,
idealism and energy to produce Trang Huyet. If he is right and a book can
contribute significantly to healing and reconciling past wounds, a more
harmonious future will begin in small ways to emerge for the people of
Vietnam – and this must also eventually touch people of other nations.
Then all of Uoc’s diligent efforts will have been worthwhile. In any event I
commend his ambition and his spontaneous and dedicated labours and wish
him well.
My admiration and affection for Vietnam and its courageous and highly
distinctive people have grown constantly from the moment I began to
research and write SAIGON. Renewed involvement with Vietnam which
has been triggered by the emergence of Trang Huyet and the republication
in Britain of a new 2005 English edition of SAIGON has therefore been a
source of great pleasure to me. So may I thank all concerned and wish
those who read these pages enduring peace and growing harmony in their
daily lives.