The Routledge concise history of Southeast Asian writing in English / Rajeev S. Patke and Philip Holden.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Patke, Rajeev S. (Rajeev Shridhar)

Contributor:

Holden, Philip.

Series:

Routledge concise histories of literature series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Southeast Asian literature (English)--History and criticism.

Southeast Asian literature (English).

Physical Description:

xi, 272 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2010.

Summary:

The Routledge Concise History of Southeast Asian Writing in English traces the development of literature in the region within its historical and cultural contexts. This volume explores creative writing in English across different genres and media, establishing connections from the colonial activity of the early modern period through to contemporary writing across Southeast Asia, focusing especially on the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

In this critical guide, Rajeev S. Patke and Philip Holden:

interweave text and context through the history of creative writing in the region

examine language use and variation, making use of illuminating examples from speech, poetry and fictional prose

trace the impact of historical, political and cultural events

engage with current debates on national consciousness, globalization, modernity and postmodernism

provide useful features including a glossary, a further reading section and chapter summaries.

Direct and clearly written, this concise history guides readers through key topics while presenting a unique, original synthesis of history and practice in Southeast Asian writing in English. It is the ideal starting point for students and all those seeking a better understanding of Southeast Asian literatures and cultures.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

Overview 1

The geographical dimension: English in Southeast Asia 1

The historical dimension; from colonial to contemporary history 4

The structural dimension: how this book works 5

The methodological dimension: a comparative approach 6

Conclusion 8

2 Historical contexts 9

Overview 9

Geography, culture and politics 9

Early modern Southeast Asia 12

Late colonialism and nationalism in Southeast Asia 15

Southeast Asia today 19

Conclusion 26

3 Linguistic contexts 28

Overview 28

Bilingualism and multilingualism in Southeast Asia 28

Spoken English in Southeast Asia 31

English in Southeast Asia: code-mixing 36

The relation of spoken to written English 38

Conclusion 42

4 Malaysian and Singaporean writing to 1965 43

Overview 43

The British in Malaya 43

Malayan writing in English 1800-1945 45

Malayan poetry in English: after the Second World War 49

Early Malayan fiction and drama 57

Conclusion 61

5 Filipino writing to 1965 62

Overview 62

Educational policies and the dissemination of English 62

Filipino literature before the Second World War 63

After the war: 1945-1965 71

Critical and educational institutions 79

Conclusion 80

6 Narrative fiction 1965-1990 81

Overview 81

The Philippines 82

Malaysia 89

Singapore 92

Hong Kong 96

Conclusion 98

7 Poetry 1965-1990 100

Overview 100

The comparative dimension 100

Philippines poetry in English 1965-1990 103

Philippine poetry: writing 'woman' 114

Poetry from Malaysia and Singapore 1965-1990 115

Conclusion 123

8 Drama 1965-1990 125

Overview 125

The Philippines 126

Malaysia 127

Singapore 130

Hong Kong 135

Conclusion 136

9 Expatriate, diasporic and minoritarian writing 137

Overview 137

Expatriate and diasporic writing from British Malaya 138

Expatriate writing from Hong Kong 141

Diasporic writers from the Philippines 144

Minoritarian writing 146

Conclusion ISO

10 Contemporary fiction 1990-2008 151

Overview 151

The Philippines 151

Malaysia 155

Singapore 157

Hong Kong 162

Conclusion 164

11 Contemporary poetry 1990-2008 165

Overview 165

The Philippines 166

Malaysia 177

Singapore 179

Hong Kong 186

Conclusion 189

12 Contemporary drama 1990-2008 190

Overview 190

The Philippines 190

Malaysia 192

Singapore 195

Hong Kong 201

Conclusion 202

13 From the contemporary to the future 203

Overview 203

From decolonization through modernity to cosmopolitanism 203

Literary cultures in the era of digital technologies 209

The Philippines 211

Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong 213

Conclusion 216.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780415435680

0415435684

9780415435697

0415435692

9780203874035

020387403X

OCLC:

166361507