Nguyen Chi Thien

About

Vietnamese poet and political activist who is most remembered for his twenty-seven years spent in prison. For his literary work, he received the 1985 Rotterdam International Poetry Prize.

Before Fame

He taught high school history and spent two years in prison for telling his students that the United States had defeated Japan in World War II (his country's official view on the matter was that the Soviet Union had defeated Japan).

Trivia

He was the 1989 recipient of the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.

Family Life

He was born in Hanoi, Vietnam and later immigrated to the United States.

Associated With

He and astronaut Pham Tuan are two of Vietnam's most famous personalities.