Ocean Vuong is a highly acclaimed Vietnamese author, poet, and essayist. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he has made a significant impact in the literary world with his powerful and emotive writings. His debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, published by Penguin Press in 2019, has been praised for its raw exploration of identity, family, and the immigrant experience. The novel is also set to be translated into 12 other languages worldwide.
Vuong's poetry has garnered him similar accolades. His debut full-length collection, Night Sky With Exit Wounds, won multiple awards, including the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Whiting Award, the Thom Gunn Award, and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. The collection was also named a New York Times Top 10 Book of 2016. Vuong's poetry is known for its poignant and evocative imagery, exploring themes of love, loss, and identity. His work has been featured in numerous prestigious publications, including The Atlantic, Harper's, The Nation, The New Yorker, and The New York Times.
In addition to his literary achievements, Vuong has received numerous fellowships and honors for his writing. He has been awarded fellowships from the Lannan Foundation, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, The Academy of American Poets, and the Pushcart Prize. Vuong was also named a 2016 100 Leading Global Thinker by Foreign Policy magazine and was included in BuzzFeed Books' list of "32 Essential Asian American Writers." His work has been profiled on NPR's "All Things Considered," PBS NewsHour, Teen Vogue, VICE, The Fantastic Man, and The New Yorker.
Currently, Vuong serves as an Assistant Professor in the MFA Program for Poets and Writers at Umass-Amherst in Northampton, Massachusetts. His work continues to inspire and move readers around the world, shedding light on the complexities of the human experience with grace and honesty.