The Votive Pen: Writings on Edwin Thumboo
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Poetic insights into Singapore's complex identity.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the multifaceted identity of Singapore through the eyes of Edwin Thumboo, a literary icon. Sengupta's meticulous examination of Thumboo's poetry offers a fresh perspective, free from the bias of previous criticisms, and invites readers to delve deep into the emotional and intellectual landscape of Singapore. Through Thumboo's remarkable ability to seamlessly merge diverse influences, from African poetry to Eastern philosophies, the book offers a powerful portrayal of a nation grappling with its past, present, and future.
The Votive Pen: Writings on Edwin Thumboo
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
ISBN: 9789814882132
Authors:
Nilanjana Sengupta
Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA
Date of Publication: 2020-12-20
Format: Paperback
Goodreads rating: 5.0
(rated by 1 readers)
Description
‘Edwin Thumboo is a literary icon of Singapore. I regard him as our unofficial Poet Laureate’ - Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore A riveting look at the fiercely original, intellectually brilliant mind of Singapore’s unofficial Poet-Laureate, Edwin Thumboo whose poetry is key to understanding the emotional hinterland of the city-state. Born of Tamil and Teochew parents, Edwin Thumboo embraced the Protestant faith late in his life. He has a self-confessed fetish for Yeats and Pound and yet completed his doctoral thesis on post-colonial African poetry. He taught himself the Ramayana and I-Ching but found traces of the Odysseus in the shadows of the Merlion. He is brusquely vocal about poetry with a purpose and yet appears a hopeless romantic in his poems about his wife. What happens when a mind which is such a melting pot of brilliant ideas and contrary emotions tries to unscramble the identity of a country like Singapore which is complex, multiracial, has known a fierce economic growth that has often elbowed aside everything else? The Votive Pen sets out to see Edwin Thumboo’s poetry—steadily and see it whole—without the intervening static of earlier critical writing and with an intense alertness to the text.
Condition guide
Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
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Poetic insights into Singapore's complex identity.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the multifaceted identity of Singapore through the eyes of Edwin Thumboo, a literary icon. Sengupta's meticulous examination of Thumboo's poetry offers a fresh perspective, free from the bias of previous criticisms, and invites readers to delve deep into the emotional and intellectual landscape of Singapore. Through Thumboo's remarkable ability to seamlessly merge diverse influences, from African poetry to Eastern philosophies, the book offers a powerful portrayal of a nation grappling with its past, present, and future.
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