Bong Hong Sa Mac (Rose in the Desert).

HCM CITY (VNS) — Cai luong playwright Tran Ha, real name Nguyen Van Thiet, has released his autobiography narrating events that happened in his life and tracing the development of the art from 1954 until 1975, when he became a cultural official.

The 87-year-old, who is in indifferent health, spent almost 10 years between 1995 and 2005 to put down his memories on paper.

But the thought of writing a book did not cross his mind. This year he met another cai luong artist Linh Huyen, who published Khi Buc Man Nhung Khep Lai (After the Curtain Falls) at her own cost.

"After reading the manuscript, I knew this was a rare book for people who want to know about the ups and downs in artists' lives between 1954 and 1975," Huyen said.

The book has lots of material for those who want to research about the traditional art and popular artists in the world of cai luong in the last few decades, she said.

Thiet, whose more than 50 cai luong plays include popular ones like Bong Hong Sa Mac (Rose in the Desert), Nua Manh Tim (Half of the heart), was born in Soc Trang in a family of seven children of whom he was the only artist. — VNS