HomeLiterary FictionThe Emperor of Gladness

Cover of The Emperor of Gladness

Literary Fiction · 2025 · PG-13

The Emperor of Gladness

by Ocean Vuong

A Vietnamese-American young man works in a nursing home — Vuong's debut novel.

For14+GenreLiterary FictionLength336 pagesRead time~9 hours

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Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

None

No violence

Language

Barely any

Mild language

Sexual Content

Some

Gay relationship

Substance Use

Some

Drug use

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of care, immigration, and finding meaning in small lives

What this book is about

Vuong's 2025 debut novel follows Hai, a twenty-two-year-old Vietnamese-American man working in a Connecticut nursing home. Features gay relationships, drug use, and Vuong's lyrical prose. For adults.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Gay content

Drug use

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