Singaporean literature

The literature of Singapore comprises a collection of literary works by Singaporeans in the country's four main languagues: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Introduction

While Singaporean literary works may be considered as also belonging to the literature of their specific languages, the literature of Singapore is considered as a distinct body of literature protraying various aspects of Singapore society and is a significant part of the culture of Singapore. A number of Singaporean writers such as Tan Swie Hian have contributed work in more than one language; and this reflects the influence across languages in the literary culture of this multi-ethnic, multi-language country.

Singaporean literature in English started with the Straits-born Chinese community in the colonial era, which ended in 1965 with the independence of Singapore. Its early exponents were primarily writers in acedemia such as Edwin Thumboo and Robert Yeo. The first Singaporean work of poetry in English is thought to be Wang Gungwu's Pulse (1950). In the 1990s there was a resurgence of poetry in English in Singapore, with many poets under the age of 35 now actively writing and publishing.

More recent Singapore literature often portrays the cultural melting pot in Singapore society, such as Su-Chen Christine Lim's novel Bit of Earth which describes the friendship between a Malay chief and a Chinese refugee during British colonial period.

Notable writers

• Aaron Lee
• Abdul Ghani Bin Abdul Hamid
• Muhammad Ariff Ahmad
• Gopal Baratham, neurosurgeon and writer
• Michael Chiang
• Rohani Din
• Goh Poh Seng
• Philip Jeyaretnam
• Rama Kannabiran
• Russell Lee
• Lee Tzu Pheng
• Liang Wern Fook
• Catherine Lim
• Su-Chen Christine Lim
• Shirley Lim
• Rex Shelley
• Kirpal Singh
• Tan Swie Hian, poet, translator, calligrapher, and artist
• Simon Tay
• Edwin Thumboo
• I Ulaganathan
• Eleanor Wong, academic lawyer, journalist and playwright
• Alex Au [1], gay activist, Singaporean cultural and political commentator
• Cyril Wong [2], gay poet

Selected works

English

• If We Dream Too Long - Goh Poh Seng (1973)
• Ricebowl - Su-Chen Christine Lim (1984)
• Army Daze - Michael Chiang (1984)
• First Loves - Philip Jeyaretnam (1988)
• The Shrimp People - Rex Shelley (1991)
• Fistful Of Colours - Su-chen Christine Lim (1993)
• A Third Map - Edwin Thumboo (1993)
• The Caning of Michael Fay - Gopal Baratham (1994)
• Culture Shock Japan (non-fiction) - Rex Shelley (1994)
• Mergers and Accusations (play) - Eleanor Wong (1995)
• The Bondmaid - Catherine Lim (1995)
• A Visitation of Sunlight - Aaron Lee (1997)
• Below: Absence - Cyril Wong (2002)
• Unmarked Treasure - Cyril Wong (2004)

Malay

• Jangan Tak Ada (collection of poems) - Muhammad Ariff Ahmad (1990)
• Diari Bonda (Mother's Diary) - Rohani Din (1997)
• Anugerah Buat Syamsiah (An Award for Syamsiah) - Rohani Din (2001)

Tamil

• Cantana Kinnam - I Ulaganathan (1966)

See also

• Culture of Singapore
• Singapore gay literature

External links

• Singapore literature
• Modern Malay Literature in Singapore, by Mohd Raman Daud.
• Singapore's Writers