Ocean Vuong
Born 1988 · Age 37
Vietnamese American poet, essayist, and novelist; author of Night Sky with Exit Wounds (2016), On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (2019), Time Is a Mother (2022), and The Emperor of Gladness (2025). Recipient of major fellowships and awards including the Ruth Lilly Fellowship, Whiting Award, T. S. Eliot Prize, and a MacArthur Fellowship.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Born Vương Quốc Vinh (later Ocean Vuong) in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City.
Evacuated from Vietnam and resettled in the U.S.
Family evacuated to a refugee camp in the Philippines, later gained asylum and migrated to the United States; family settled in Hartford, Connecticut in a one‑bedroom apartment shared with seven relatives.
Renamed 'Ocean' by his mother
At about age two his mother, prompted by a salon customer, gave him the name 'Ocean' (to replace 'beach').
Learned to read
Became the first in his family to achieve proficiency in reading and writing; learned to read at about age 11.
Worked illegally on a tobacco farm
At age 15 he worked on a tobacco farm (illegally); later described these experiences in his novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
Graduated Glastonbury High School (approx.)
Attended Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, Connecticut; struggled academically at times (reported GPA of about 1.7 at one point). (Approximate graduation year based on later college dates.)
Enrolled at Manchester Community College
After high school, he attended Manchester Community College (a stepping stone before transfer).
Transferred briefly to Pace University (marketing) and dropped out
Enrolled at Pace University in New York City to study marketing but left after a few weeks when he realized it wasn't for him.
Enrolled at Brooklyn College (CUNY)
Enrolled at Brooklyn College to study English/19th‑century American literature; studied under Ben Lerner.
Published chapbook 'Burnings'
First chapbook Burnings published by Sibling Rivalry Press.
'Burnings' named to ALA Over The Rainbow list
The American Library Association selected Burnings (2010) for its 'Over The Rainbow' list of notable LGBT books in 2011.
Earned B.A. in English from Brooklyn College
Graduated from Brooklyn College (CUNY) with a B.A., studying nineteenth‑century English literature and poetry.
Received Academy of American Poets College Prize
Won a college prize from the Academy of American Poets while at Brooklyn College.
Published chapbook 'No'
Second chapbook No published by YesYes Books.
Awarded Ruth Lilly & Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship
Received the Ruth Lilly/Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation (a prestigious poetry fellowship).
Published poems in Poetry magazine and other journals
Notable poems published in Poetry magazine and other outlets (e.g., 'DetoNation', 'Aubade with Burning City', and the poem 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' in Poetry, Dec 2014).
Published 'Someday I'll Love Ocean Vuong' in The New Yorker
Shorter pieces and poems in The New Yorker and other major outlets raised his profile prior to his first full collection.
Named by Foreign Policy as one of 100 Leading Global Thinkers
Recognized by Foreign Policy magazine in its list of 100 Leading Global Thinkers for 2016.
Earned MFA in Poetry from New York University
Completed an M.F.A. program in poetry at NYU.
Published 'Night Sky with Exit Wounds' (debut collection)
Full‑length debut poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds released by Copper Canyon Press.
Received Whiting Award
Awarded one of the Whiting Awards for writing (recognized as an emerging writer).
PBS NewsHour profile / national media appearances
Featured on PBS NewsHour and began receiving wider media attention as a major new voice in poetry.
Won T. S. Eliot Prize for Night Sky with Exit Wounds
Night Sky with Exit Wounds received the 2017 T. S. Eliot Prize (major UK poetry prize for the year's best collection).
Joined UMass Amherst MFA faculty (approx.)
After the success of Night Sky, Vuong joined the MFA Program for Poets & Writers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as a faculty member (associate professor level noted in sources).
Served as NYU Asian/Pacific/American Institute Artist‑in‑Residence
Served as Artist‑in‑Residence (2019–2020) at NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute and worked with NYU centers for refugee poetics and writers.
Mother diagnosed with breast cancer (three months before novel publication)
His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer roughly three months before the June 2019 publication of his novel.
Novel recognized with major 2019 honors and prizes
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous was longlisted/shortlisted for numerous 2019 awards (longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, Carnegie Medal in Fiction, Aspen Words Prize; shortlisted for Center for Fiction First Novel Prize; won New England Book Award for Fiction and the Mark Twain American Voice Award).
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous debuts on NYT bestseller list (six weeks)
The novel debuted on The New York Times bestseller list and remained on the list for six weeks after publication.
Published debut novel 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous'
Penguin Press published Vuong's first novel, an epistolary work drawing on family history and personal experience.
Received MacArthur Fellowship ('Genius Grant')
Named a 2019 MacArthur Fellow; the fellowship awards approximately $625,000 to recipients (paid over several years).
Mother died
Vuong's mother died in November 2019; he wrote his second poetry collection Time Is a Mother during the ensuing period of mourning.
Contributed a work to the Future Library project
Revealed as the seventh writer to contribute an original text to the Future Library project (works to be unread until 2114).
Excerpt of novel used in NSW Higher School Certificate exam
An excerpt from On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous was featured in the New South Wales Higher School Certificate English exam (Nov 2021), prompting public attention and student queries.
Published poetry collection 'Time Is a Mother'
Released his second full poetry collection, Time Is a Mother, a book that wrestles with grief after his mother's death; the collection was a finalist for the Griffin Prize.
Named tenured Professor of Creative Writing at NYU
Joined NYU’s Creative Writing program as a tenured professor of creative writing (Modern Poetry and Poetics) and maintained ties to UMass Amherst MFA.
Named one of '32 Essential Asian American Writers' by BuzzFeed
Included in a BuzzFeed Books list of 32 essential Asian American writers.
Novel sales milestone reported (site claim)
OceanVuong.com states On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous has sold more than 1,000,000 copies in 40 languages (site does not give exact date; this is a reported milestone reached after initial publication).
Announcement of new novel coming summer 2025
Announcements and press in 2024 revealed Ocean Vuong's next novel would be published in summer 2025.
Public controversies and debates about his work
Both of Vuong's novels (and some poems) continued to generate public discussion and critical debate, including questions about explicit content and style; critical responses to The Emperor of Gladness were mixed.
The Emperor of Gladness named an Oprah's Book Club selection
The novel was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club 2.0 selection on publication (May 2025).
Published 'The Emperor of Gladness'
Released second novel The Emperor of Gladness (May 13, 2025); received mixed critical attention and was selected by Oprah's Book Club on publication.
Key Achievement Ages
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