Vietnam's Elevator in Saigon: A Historical Narrative of French Colonialism and Its Impacts on Vietnam
In the heart of Paris, on a quiet street named 21 avenue de Suffren, a photograph from the past has been uncovered. The image, found in the journal of a deceased woman, depicts a man named Paul Polotsky in 1954. The discovery has sparked an intriguing investigation, as the narrator delves into the life of this woman, her loyalty to the party, and her survival from Hoà Lo Prison in Vietnam.
The woman, whose life is under scrutiny, died in an unexpected and tragic manner. On the rainiest night of the year, she met her end in Saigon's first residential elevator. The circumstances surrounding her death remain a mystery, but the investigation is far from over.
The narrator is not only investigating the woman's past, but also pursuing leads in the present. In Paris, they are following an old man who may be Paul Polotsky, a mysterious French-Russian emigré. The connection between Polotsky and the deceased woman is yet to be established, but the investigation is progressing.
The deceased woman's family, meanwhile, carries on with their lives. Her daughter, a Vietnamese teacher in France, and her son, a wealthy real estate mogul, are keeping their own secrets. Their roles in the woman's life and the events leading up to her death are still shrouded in mystery.
The story of the deceased woman and her connections to Paul Polotsky is being chronicled by Thuận, a clear-eyed chronicler of the French empire and its Vietnamese afterlives. The book, titled "Elevator in Saigon", will be available for purchase from New Directions Publishing on August 6.
This investigation is a thrilling change of orientation for English-language readers, offering a different perspective on the American-led war and its impact on ordinary lives in Vietnam. As the narrative unfolds, the truth about the woman's life, her death, and her connections to Paul Polotsky may finally come to light.
The deceased woman's daughter, a Vietnamese teacher in France, may find solace in reading Thuận's book, "Elevator in Saigon", as it delves into her mother's life and uncovers the truth about her connections to Paul Polotsky. In her free time, she might also enjoy other books that provide entertainment and insights into various lifestyles.
As the old man who could be Paul Polotsky continues to evade the investigators, he might find himself engrossed in literature, trying to escape the past and uncertainties of his present life, or perhaps savoring the elegance and glamour depicted in lifestyle magazines to satiate his desires for a different life.
