Diary of a Cricket

Diary of a Cricket is a novel by Tô Hoài. It was first published in 1941 in Hanoi. Over the course of half a century, the work has been reprinted many times, delighting many generations of readers.

It is a story of a cricket who, together with his friends, travels throughout the world. On their journey, the group meets many dangers and hardships, but their difficulties only deepen their feelings of brotherhood. Along the way, the travelers meet new friends who share the same sense of purpose and a strong belief in a better future.

Readers of the story will gain insight into the characters’ love of nature and country. The author wants to share with the readers a childhood world in which the beauties of his native land (a river, a lawn, a forest or a white cloud in the blue sky, etc.) are encountered and become unforgettable memories.

This edition features the 1959 illustrations by artist Ngô Mạnh Lân, along with appendix of six illustrations he created in 1965. Ngô Mạnh Lân’s illustrations for Diary of a Cricket open up a vivid, pure, and expansive world, bringing to life the noble-hearted cricket and the vibrant natural landscapes that breathe through his artwork.