Behind the scenes of the publishing profession over the past 100 years in 'The words outside the pages of books' by Tran Dinh Ba

The work The Words Outside the Pages by author Tran Dinh Ba, tells the story of publishing work in the second half of the 19th century to August 1945, with familiar topics, from "putting on makeup" to making covers, drawing pictures of content, writing prefaces to correcting typos, the author's dedication to the book... helping readers see a period in the history of publishing activities in our country.

The work The Letters Outside the Pages (published by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House) by author Tran Dinh Ba tells the story of publishing work in the second half of the 19th century until August 1945.

Behind the scenes of book publishing in Vietnam before August 1945

In part 1 Behind the pages of the book   The work The Letters Beyond the Pages by author Tran Dinh Ba, focuses on the publishing profession in Vietnam from the second half of the 19th century when Western printing machines were brought to Vietnam by the French. The establishment of state printing houses from the 1860s laid the foundation for modern publishing.

At the beginning of the 20th century, publishing gradually shifted to public and private publishing houses, of which two major publishing centers were in Saigon and Hanoi. The major publishing units mentioned were Tan Dan Publishing House, Mai Linh Publishing House in Hanoi, and Tin Duc Thu Xa in Saigon. Central Vietnam also contributed its voice with Tieng Dan Publishing House, Dac Lap Publishing House, and Qui Nhon Publishing House...

Book distribution activities through the bookstore system, the relationship between authors and publishers, and translations of world masterpieces are also mentioned. The people and jobs that contribute to the appeal of the work are also introduced, from "putting on makeup" to making the cover, drawing the content, writing the preface to correcting typos, and the author's dedication to the book...

Editor, author Tran Dinh Ba

With a capacity of nearly 400 pages, the work The Letters Outside the Pages is also a useful document to help readers recall the publishing field.

For example, the cover drawing in the article "Diam Phan To Son" has a passage about the cover of the book "Khi chiec duoc roi" (When the yếm falls down) by Truong Tuu as follows: "There are book covers that are done boldly, going beyond the social norms of that time. Take the cover of the novel "Khi chiec duoc roi" (When the yếm falls down) by Truong Tuu as an example. This work was illustrated by Nguyet Ho, whose real name is Vu Tien Da, published by Minh Phuong Publishing House in Hanoi in 1940. The book cover is beautiful, sexy but not vulgar with the image of a young Vietnamese girl wearing a crow's beak scarf, a beautiful, balanced face wearing a yếm but a loose yếm when a strap falls down, revealing her full, vibrant breasts without any forced or shyness".

Continuing part 2 of Vui buon giay muc, the author introduces many activities related to publishing. Many writers, authors, and translators participate in publishing but "give up halfway" because they do not know how to do business or have little capital.

Among them are familiar names such as Tan Da, Huy Can, Xuan Dieu, Nguyen Duc Chinh, Pham Cao Cung... The "wordworms" are also mentioned such as Le Van Truong, Vu Bang, Nguyen Hong, To Hoai, Vuong Hong Sen... This section also reviews the popular book genres at that time, the trend of making Tet books that started in 1928 with the pioneering of Tan Dan Thu Quan, and the first book and newspaper exhibition in Vietnam held in Saigon in 1942...

Cover of the novel When the Brassiere Falls Down by Truong Tuu, published by Minh Phuong Publishing House in Hanoi in 1940

Part 3 of Cao Thom is an opportunity to look back at many examples of book lovers, reading books and their views on the role of books in life. King Le Thanh Tong believed that reading books helps scholars understand the meaning and know how to protect themselves; King Minh Mang valued books, seeking books from the people is no less than seeking talents. The names of the pen and ink village: Thach Lam, Thieu Son also have useful views on how to read, reading...

With a capacity of nearly 400 pages, the work The Words Outside the Pages is also a useful document that helps us recall the publishing field with the basic activities of printing, publishing, and distributing the publishing industry for nearly 100 years. With the presentation in the form of small articles, divided into related topics and the charming and curious writing and storytelling style of author Tran Dinh Ba, The Words Outside the Pages is a "place" where readers meet many authors and works they have read, as well as learn more interesting stories related to them.

Some published works of author Tran Dinh Ba: The early Le Dynasty (1428-1527) with the fight against "people's worms, country's termites"; Viet An tracing old historical pages; Behind the newspaper (Memoirs of the portrait of the early Vietnamese press to 1945).

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