Finding the Dragon Lady: The Mystery of Vietnam's Madame Nhu

There has been another book based on the memoir of Madame Nhu, published by a French publisher, an esoteric group with a division specializing Asia and a reputation for publishing works that cannot be published elsewhere. The French publication is edited by the surviving children of Madame Nhu. Hence, the authenticity of Ms. Demery's book must be reevaluated. I am quoting the announcement of the French publication below:"Annonce de la parution des mémoires de Mme Nhu sous la forme d'un recueil édité par ses enfants Ngô-Ðình Quynh et Ngô-Ðình Lê Quyên (1959-2012). Ci-après présentation de l'éditeur.À travers l'histoire de la « République du Viêt-Nam » au temps des Ngô-Ðình, ses bâtisseurs, et les événements meurtriers qui ont tenté de la détruire, c'est toute la vitalité de l'âme Viêt qui est en devenir comme l'exprime Madame Ngô-Ðình Nhu dans les mémoires inspirés qu'elle a dédiés à son pays. Ses enfants, Ngô-Ðình Quynh et Ngô-Ðình Lê Quyên, grâce à leurs archives familiales, nous permettent de comprendre la voie qu'ont voulu tracer les frères Ngô-Ðình pour que leur pays vive selon ses propres valeurs. Le cinquantième anniversaire de leur assassinat survenu le 2 novembre 1963 offre à l'Occident l'opportunité d'une large méditation sur les erreurs du passé."SOURCE: Harmattan_LaRepubliqueDuVietNamEtLesNgoDinhThere are many cultural errors in Ms. Emery's book, perhaps recognized only by native Vietnamese. I won't bother with details on this limited channel. Apparently, Ms. Demery's book was written for the American public, but should there be such a difference in standard in the search for truth and understanding? To start, Ms. Demery repeated the Western epithet, "Dragon Lady," as part of the title, the very first step of her revisiting this historical figure and the dark chapter in the history of both Vietnam and America -- she started with the negative and its prejudice. Not that Ms. Demery wasn't aware of what she was doing and the approach she used -- she explained the epithet in the final chapter of her book. But something else is more important for readers and researchers on this topic: Which memoir of Madame Nhu is the authentic one? Based on the recent development and Ms. Demery's work, there have been three sources: 1) the memoir provided Ms. Demery by Madam Nhu after so much courting between her and the 80-something aging and frail woman who had suffered as much loss as she had gathered glamour; 2) the memoir in the possession of her surviving children published in France, and 3) a memoir claimed by first-generation Vietnamese who interviewed her in Paris. Perhaps 1, 2, and 3 are the same! However, according to Ms. Demery, there was another memoir written in the 50s and/or early 60s, or more precisely a diary allegedly kept by Madame Nhu and found by the 'revolutionists" who looted the independent palace in November, 1963. Somehow, this secret diary emerged after 5 decades and found its way to Ms. Demery, in which the private side of the Nhus' marital relationship was revealed in very vague, yet scandalous terms. Ms. Demery couldn't resist the temptation of making this known to her reading public, posthumous to Madame Nhu, just as Ms. Demery couldn't resist the marketability of "deja vu" -- the return to the popular, yet infamous American slang pinned upon the Vietnamese "outspoken diminutive beauty" hated by many of both her fellow Vietnamese and the American press (and politicians). I wonder what Madame Nhu might have felt had she known that her alleged lost diary would make its way into Ms. Demery's book? She is too dead now to be accorded a chance for response and explanation. We should wonder at what point Ms. Demery first knew of this diary, and whether she informed her subject, whom she judged during the development of the relationship. Her good intention was to correct misunderstandings and to present the more humane side of the controversial international figure that has been forgotten by younger generations. Ms. Demery promised Madame Nhu not to change her memoir, yet it was in effect changed due to Ms. Demery's discovery of this "lost diary." Love her or hate her, one must acknowledge that Madame Nhu was committed to her husband, her family, her cause and her faith. Ms. Demery's revelation of what was in this lost diary undermined Madame Nhu's lifetime commitment in a way that fell short of what is expected of serious and objective historical analyses. This book adds little to our understanding of history; nor does it resolve unanswered queries by historians, let alone the unresolved feelings and pains of Vietnamese on the losing side of that war. But, Ms. Demery is a good writer and the book has a novelistic quality to whet the appetite of readers looking for entertainment. And, Ms. Demery did make some objective observations about the worth of her subject in the context of racist and sexist America in the 60s. For that, I give the book a two stars. I wish I could do better for Ms. Demery in light of her talents as a storyteller, footnoter, writer, and fellow woman. I can't. My two stars rating is in fairness to my Vietnamese culture and the contemporary world that should look back and review the pages of history. This task should be done, today, with responsibility, cultural awareness, and political remorse -- what we did not have back then, in November of 1963 and the years that followed, in the turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s, both in Vietnam and in America." My description of the French publisher might have been too subjective and personal. In fairness to L'Harmattan, the more objective and acceptable description of the French publisher should be as follows: "L'Harmattan, Paris, is a known publishing company with a division specializing Asia and Indochina history."

I really enjoy reading this book. In my opinion this is an exceptional effort by an author to write about someone from a different era, a different historical setting, from almost a completely different world. And in the process of doing that, she had forged a bond with the subject - although many may consider to be a failed attempt for the author was never able to meet Madame Nhu in person. However, I don't think that was the objective, for a person can be discovered in many ways, and meeting face to face may be just one of those many. And also as the author admitted in the end, it was never meant to be.If you are interested in the Vietnam war, or more specifically about president Ngo Dinh Diem and this tumultuous time in the history of Vietnam, there are volumes upon volumes of materials already written from all possible perspectives. You will not find the complete picture in this book. What you will find is the life of a once mysterious, powerful, beautiful, and very influential lady from a small country in Southeast Asia, in which setting she was born and how she became one of the most influential figures in the history of her country in modern era. This book to me is also not a biography in the normal sense; and the author never claimed that this was an authoritative biography of any sort. The title said it all: "Finding the Dragon Lady". It is about an attempt to discover someone of a distant past. And I truly believe the author did succeed in finding her.Whether one hates her, despises her, respects her, admires her, or loves her, one has to admit that Madame Nhu remained true to herself to the last day of her life. Rest in peace, Madame Nhu.

Madame Nhu was President Diem's sister-in-law, and he - being spouseless - officially named Madame Nhu "First Lady" of RVN, a post she held until Diem was murdered in the 1963 coup sponsored by the US. Madame Nhu was in the US at the time of the overthrow of the Diem government; otherwise she would have surely been killed as well.Author Monique Demery describes M. Nhu:[I]t was Madame Nhu's reputation as the Dragon Lady that brought her real distinction. When Buddhist monks were setting themselves on fire in the streets of Saigon, Madame Nhu's response was unspeakably cruel: "Let them burn and we shall clap our hands," she had said with a smile. "If the Buddhists wish to have another barbecue, I will be glad to supply the gasoline and a match." The dangerous, dark-eyed beauty quickly became a symbol of everything wrong with American involvement in the Vietnam War. [ Demery, Monique Brinson (2013-09-24). Finding the Dragon Lady: The Mystery of Vietnam's Madame Nhu (Kindle Locations 151-154). PublicAffairs. Kindle Edition.]This book will bring back memories (if you're old enough to have any) of Vietnam during the years leading to what the Vietnamese call "The American War." There are any number of tidbits. One of my favorites is the recounting of the visit by VP LBJ to the Presidential Palace in Saigon (tiger skins are involved).Remember, if you will, that the Vietnam War was essentially "won" by about 1970 - the VC were neutralized and almost all of RVN was safe and secure - but the war was soon "lost" in spineless Washington. You know the sad story. We (the US) didn't finish what we started, but that debate will never be resolved.Suffice it to say that "Finding the Dragon Lady" is (1) a fine refresher course about a particular era of Vietnamese/American history and (2) an engrossing story about Tran Thi Le Xuan (Madame Nhu's childhood name).If you like history, you will like this book. 5 stars.

well. the writer has done a good job-she has thorougly researched her material, she tried to shed light on an oscure historical figure, her style of writing is elegant and enjoyable-but she lacks objectivity -she is a not so good historian.

Many books have been written on Vietnam history of 1954-1963 period; however, none had been written about Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu (Tran Thi Le Xuan). Others written as memoirs by Vietnamese authors are not that objective. Monique Brinson Demery spent almost 5 years "working with" Madame Nhu and doing research for this book. Read and judge it for yourself.This is an interestingly written and easy to read book. Younger overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese born after the war should read this book of Demery.

Per chi voglia approfondire la biografia di Tran Le Xuan, passata alla storia come Madame Nhu, finalmente una ricostruzione molto documentata, fondata su una ricerca scientifica. Il racconto è tuttavia steso in forma semi-autobiografica, il che rende il racconto particolarmente appassionante. Demery infatti andò avventurosamente sulle tracce dell'anziana Xuan a Parigi, riuscendo a instaurare con lei un contatto telefonico, protrattosi sino alla morte della vedova Nhu, cognata del presidente Diem. Libro arricchito da ricca selezione di fotografie che ripercorrono la vita di Xuan.

Fabulous book!

Délai de livraison bien respecté, par contre, j'ai acheté un livre neuf mais j'ai reçu un livre avec plein de trace de l'huile et les bords du livre sont abîmés.