Ocean Vuong's 'The Emperor of Gladness' Reviewed as Millennial Great American Novel
In the May 2025 issue of ArtReview, Ocean Vuong's new novel, 'The Emperor of Gladness,' is highlighted. The story follows nineteen-year-old Hai, who leaves his mundane working-class hometown behind. He meets Grazina, an 82-year-old Lithuanian immigrant who escaped the Soviet invasion in 1944, and they become roommates. Following the tragic overdose of his best friend, Hai drops out of Pace University and seeks employment at HomeMarket, with help from his cousin Sony. Set in 2009, before smartphones took over, the book explores themes like war, poverty, and addiction, all while reflecting on Obama-era pop culture. Vuong's clear poetic style is praised, differing from his previous work, 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.' Published by Jonathan Cape, it costs £20 in hardcover and is dubbed 'the first millennial Great American Novel.'
Key facts
- Ocean Vuong's second novel is 'The Emperor of Gladness'.
- The protagonist is nineteen-year-old Hai, who runs away from home.
- Hai meets Grazina, an 82-year-old Lithuanian immigrant who fled the Soviet invasion in 1944.
- Hai dropped out of Pace University after his best friend died of an overdose.
- Hai seeks a job at HomeMarket, a fast-casual dining chain.
- The novel includes characters like BJ, a six-foot-tall Caribbean-American manager who dreams of pro wrestling.
- The story is set in 2009, before smartphones.
- The review is from ArtReview's May 2025 issue.
- The novel is published by Jonathan Cape in hardcover for £20.
- The review calls it 'the first millennial Great American Novel'.
Entities
Artists
- Ocean Vuong
Institutions
- Pace University
- HomeMarket
- Jonathan Cape
- ArtReview
Locations
- East Gladness
- Hartford
- Connecticut
- United States