Making Literature Travel

Nhã Thuyên writes, translates, edits books and sometimes organizes literary events. She has authored several books of poetry, short fiction and books for children. Her poetry book words breathe, creatures of elsewhere (từ thở, những người lạ) was published in Vietnamese Nha Nam, 12015) and in English translation by Kaitlin Rees (Vagabond Press, 2016). More recent translations are un\ \martyred: [self-]vanishing presences in Vietnamese poetry (Roof Books, 2019) and moon fevers (Tilted Axis Press, 2019). Co-founder with Kaitlin Reese of AJAR, a bilingual literary journal-press and online space for poetic exchange, and co-organiser of a mini poetry festival in Hanoi. She is currently shaping a book of essays.

Co-curator with Alexandra Büchler of Ù Ơ Digital Residency project with ten Vietnamese and Welsh women and non-binary poets / artists, supported by the British Council.

Ajar is dedicated to the discovery of poetry and art in both ordinary and hidden places, providing a space for these works to be exhibited, loved, and challenged. As a bilingual journal and independent small press based in Hanoi, AJAR provides an opening for questions, imaginings, and poetic (im)possibility to be shared across borders, inhabiting language as it moves between worlds and words. In bringing fresh and critical voices of Vietnamese literature and art into English, and welcoming those voices from everywhere into Vietnamese, we focus on quality translations and envision books as artifacts of artistic collaboration.