''Phka Srapoun'' ( km, ផ្កាស្រពោន, ; ) is a Khmer novel written by
Nou Hach
Nou Hach ( km, នូ ហាច, ; 26 June 1916 1975) was a Cambodian author, perhaps best known for his novel, '' Phka Sropoun''. He was born in Battambang, and died during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Early life and education
Hach was born to ...
and published in 1949. Along with ''
Kolab Pailin'' and ''
Sophat'', ''Phka Srapoun'' is considered one of the three classic novels of modern
Khmer literature.
The novel is set during
the French colonial period of Cambodia. The story portrays the Cambodian tradition of
arranged marriage
Arranged marriage is a type of marital union where the bride and groom are primarily selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents. In some cultures a professional matchmaker may be us ...
s.
Author
Nou Hach (Khmer: នូ ហាច) was born on June 26, 1916, in Kampong Preah Commune, Sangkae District,
Battambang,
Cambodia. His father's name was Khuon Nov (Khmer: ឃួន នៅ), and his mother name was Or Muoch (Khmer: ឳរ មួច). They were farmers. Hach was the eldest child of the family. He married Mrs. Tan Rem (Khmer: តាន់ រ៉េម) and had eight children.
His famous works include:
* ''Phka Srapoun'' ()
* ''Mealea Duong Chett'' ()
* ''Truoy Chivit'' ()
* ''Neari Chea Ti Sneha'' ()
* ''Tho Bek'', a French poem ()
Plot Summary
Bun Thoeun (ប៊ុនធឿន) and Vitheavy (វិធាវី) have been arranged to marry since they were young. Unfortunately, Bunthoeun's family becomes poor after a storm sinks the boat that his father uses to transport the rice in
Prey Nokor
The city now known as Ho Chi Minh City ( vi, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, links=no ) has gone by several different names during its history, reflecting settlement by different ethnic, cultural and political groups. Originally known as ''Prey Nôk ...
.
Mrs. Nuon (យាយនួន), mother of Vitheavy, is a person who prefers money over honor and honesty. She drops the engagement between Bunthoeun and her daughter, and engages Vitheavy instead to Naisot (ណៃស៊ត), who is a rich man. Naisot is bad-tempered and immoral. He uses his money to do anything he wants.
After becoming engaged to Naisot, Vitheavy falls ill, and pines for Bunthoeun. However, she dares not argue with her mother over the engagement. Her health worsens. Seeing this, Mrs. Nuon brings her daughter to the resort town of
Siem Reap
Siem Reap ( km, សៀមរាប, ) is the second-largest city of Cambodia, as well as the capital and largest city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia.
Siem Reap has French colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old F ...
, but Vitheavy's spirits remain low.
Vitheavy coughs up blood. Her mother, being superstitious, brings her to the fortune teller and uses various methods to try to cure her. However, it does not work. Her illness remains serious.
After Bunthoeun discovers Vitheavy will marry someone else, he becomes sad and cries alone. He goes into the forest for days with Mr. So (តាសូ), to find firewood and fish to reduce stress. When he returns home, Vitheavy dies. This causes him much grief.
References
{{Reflist
1949 novels
Cambodian literature