Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong, a major voice in modern literature, is celebrated for his poignant explorations of identity, queerness, and the immigrant experience. His award-winning prose and poetry demonstrate a raw, lyrical voice that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the human condition. As a first-generation Vietnamese American immigrant, he gracefully infuses his work with ideas that challenge societal norms and offer a voice for the marginalized. Vuong’s acclaimed first novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to his mother, as they navigate trauma and a fractured relationship, while his second novel The Emperor of Gladness is an epic story about “chosen family, unexpected friendship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.” It is as an Oprah’s Book Club selection and a New York Times bestseller. Voung has taught at several institutions, including UMass and divides his time between Northampton and New York.