Brown River, White Ocean: An Anthology of Twentieth-Century Philippine Literature in English (Paperback)

~ Luis H. Francia (Author) "Through the open window the air-steeped outdoors passed into his room, quietly enveloping him, stealing into his very thought..." (more)
Key Phrases: size sideward, coconut head, yellow shawl, Uncle Bias, Magno Rubio, Don Paeng (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These 31 short stories and 108 poems represent 82 authors, most of whom--with the possible exceptions of Jessica Hagedorn, Carlos Bulosan, and Jose Garcia Villa--will be unknown to American readers. The works frequently deal with universal issues of love, family, injustice, and interracial relations but explore them using Philippine customs and places, as well as words in Tagalog, Ilocano, and Spanish. Fine stories by D. Paulo Dizon ("The Beautiful Horse"), F. Sionil Jose ("Tong"), and Leoncio Deriada ("Pigpen"), and poems by Nick Joaquin, Carlos A. Angeles, and others make this anthology an excellent introduction. Recommended for general audiences.
- Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

English is often a primary literary language for Filipino writers--not only for those in the Philippines but for those resident in the US; both groups are included in this anthology of 31 stories and 108 poems documenting a tradition that began at the turn-of-the-century. Manila-born poet and writer Francia, an editor at the Village Voice, gathers and validates creative work that has had limited distribution not only here but in Asia. ``In the Philippine context, what is foreign and what is indigenous has always been a tricky and ultimately impossible subject,'' Francia writes in his introduction. ``Filipinos have unconsciously perfected the art of mixing the two up....'' Readers who expect Filipino English to have the unexpected inflections and inventiveness of Indian or Caribbean English will be disappointed: the Filipino writer uses standard American English as a native language, but spices it naturally with words form indigenous and adopted tongues: Tagalog, Spanish, Ilokano, etc. Stories look at unrequited passion (in which the sensual tropical ambiance is at odds with society's rules); village life; the different cultures that have settled in the archipelago--Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Hindu Indian; and the consequences of military, colonial, and economic occupation. Both poems and stories consider the experience of Filipinos--some intellectual, some humble--in the US. Among the more familiar contributors: Carlos Bulosan, Jos‚ Garc¡a Villa, Jessica Hagedorn, and Ninotchka Rosca. While the prose selected here is more consistent in quality than the poetry, the poems seem more wide-ranging; like the fiction writers, the poets consider love, politics, and metaphysics but move as well into experimentation and the modernist realm. A satisfying and worthwhile project. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813519993
• ISBN-13: 978-0813519999
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,274,677 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of short stories and poems..., May 28, 1998

By	[e-mail] (California) - See all my reviews

I was introduced to this anthology in my Filipino-American Literature class, and was stunned by what I found. For a person who has never read literature by Filipinos, I can tell you that this anthology presents many different styles of writing (literary devices, plot construction, etc) and will keep you coming back for more. The writers and poets are all so intelligent and creative, so much so that you'll want to find more of their work, that is after you've devoured this anthology! Every Filipino-American can find truth in the clashing of the (two, maybe more!) cultures, and in "Brown River, White Ocean," the struggles with identity are cleverly addressed and written. This is not only a book for Filipino-Americans, but for everybody. Come learn!