LA Times
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The poet was a familiar figure, striding through Little Saigon, sipping tea, sharing wisdom, his headcovered with his trademark fedora. He liked to read through the night, not too tired to dissect a bit of homeland politics. He lived simply, renting rooms in other people's homes, wearing the same suits for appearances, offering thanks for gifts of fruit and books. Early Tuesday, he died just as quietly in a Santa Ana hospital after suffering chest pain. Nguyen Chi Thien, 73, the acclaimed author of "Flowers From Hell," was revered for his modesty and creativity, thriving through 27 years of imprisonment, much of it in isolation.
