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The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at UMass Amherst has announced that acclaimed Vietnamese poet and novelist Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will present a public reading and lecture on April 30 as the capstone event of the 2025 Ellsberg Conference, which is themed “Reckoning and Reconciliation: A Conference on the Vietnam War and its Legacies.”

Quế Mai will read from her award-winning novels, "The Mountains Sing" and "Dust Child," as well as from her forthcoming poetry collection, "The Color of Peace." She will also share personal and historical reflections on the Vietnam War’s lasting impact from 7-8:30 p.m. in Integrative Learning Center 110.

Drawing from her own family’s experiences, she will discuss themes including the legacy of Agent Orange, unexploded ordnance, the search for missing family members, and the struggles of mixed-race children born during the war. Her work in fostering reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States through literature will also be a focal point of the discussion.

The evening will open with traditional Vietnamese music, followed by a screening of musical compositions inspired by Quế Mai’s poetry. She will present a bilingual poetry performance and reflect on the war’s ongoing effects. She will also discuss her collaborations with American veterans and efforts to reshape global narratives about Vietnam. Audience participation is encouraged, and the event will conclude with a moderated Q&A and book signing.

The capstone lecture is part of a month-long conference hosted by the Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end. “Reckoning and Reconciliation” features four events exploring the war’s causes, conduct and consequences, including three webinars with scholars from nine universities, NGO directors from the U.S. and Vietnam, journalists and activists.

The capstone lecture featuring Quế Mai is free and open to the public. For more information about the conference and the capstone event, please visit www.eipad.org.