The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen · 2015
Literary Fiction · ranked #48 in category
Winner · The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 2016
A communist spy serves as a captain in the South Vietnamese army and escapes to America after the fall of Saigon, all while writing a confession to an unnamed commandant. Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning debut is a dazzling, angry novel about colonialism, complicity and the double consciousness of the man who belongs to every side and none.
UK visitors: Bookshop.org supports independent bookshops. All links open a search — never a specific listing. As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The verdict
- Category
- Literary Fiction
- Author
- Viet Thanh Nguyen
- Standing
- Essential Read
About Literary Fiction
Literary fiction sits at the intersection of fine writing and serious storytelling — novels that reward attention and stay with you long after the last page. These are the books that alter your sense of what's possible in prose.
If you liked this
More literary fiction worth your shelf. See the full books like The Sympathizer list. Or try our book club guide.
Featured in
Ready to read it?
Get The Sympathizer
As an Amazon Associate, Bookshop.org and CJ Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Between books? Read magazines too.
Book readers love Magzter — 10,000+ magazines and newspapers on any device, 50% off the annual GOLD plan.
Start Reading — 50% off Annual Plan →