Major Books Online Bookstore

Heavily criticised upon publication and subsequently censored by the government, Making a Whore serves as a poignant defence for Huyền, its protagonist, deemed tainted by debauchery. With his uniquely satirical and irreverent tone, Vũ Trọng Phụng sharply exposes societal norms.

This long-awaited translation introduces English-speaking readers to a bold and influential voice, offering a unique window into a tumultuous period of history.

Making a Whore

by Vũ Trọng Phụng 

Translated by Đinh Ngọc Mai

Edited by Dương Mạnh Hùng, Alina Martin and Samuel Tan

The novel follows the life of Huyền, a young woman born into Hà Nội’s upper-class, whose innocent interest in her mother’s pregnancy is kept at arm’s length: ‘You’ll find out when you get married’, so they say. Lacking sexual education from her family, Huyền turns to her peers for answers, opening up a world of childish whispers about physical pleasure.

As polite society demands Huyền to remain virtuous, she enters into adulthood with both the will to know and the will to suppress a young woman’s burning physical desires. The torments of her sexual frustration spiral Huyền into a life of debauchery, one she might not ever want to turn back from.

⚠️ Please note our books are currently in Pre-Order status. Delivery timelines may vary due to editing and printing schedules. Thank you! 

£11.99

Available on backorder

Additional information

Original Title

Làm Đĩ

Cover Artist

Nguyễn Thanh Vũ

Pages

219

Format

Paperback

ISBN

978-1-917233-02-6

Release Date (est.)

30th January 2025