BBC Radio 4 Extra – Poetry Extra, in the studio

Poet Daljit Nagra selects In The Studio – Ocean Vuong: Becoming Briefly Beautiful with the young Vietnamese writer who has been called “one of our most talented poets”. And Daljit reads a poem from his Poetry Extra Book of the Month – Battery Rocks by Katrina Naomi.

Ocean Vuong came to public attention when his poetry collection ‘Night Sky With Exit Wounds’ was showered with prizes. His first novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Beautiful” followed and was also critically acclaimed.

Ocean’s work often reflects his own experience as an immigrant. He was born in Saigon, Vietnam, but at a young age he and members of his family left Vietnam as refugees for the United States. After completing a degree in business administration, Ocean found his true calling as a writer and now divides his time between creating new work and teaching college students.

Oonagh Cousins ​​​​talks to Ocean about the way he creates his work, how ideas and images come to him and the importance of feeling uncomfortable while writing.

Producer – Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2020.

Show less