ISBN: 978-0-924304-52-1. 368 pages. Paperback

A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title

“Modern Short Fiction of Southeast Asia” surveys the historical and cultural significance of modern short fiction in nine Southeast Asian nations—Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar/Burma, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Written in an accessible style, without jargon, this book will be of great interest to students of modern literature and general readers interested in Southeast Asia as well as scholars of East and South Asia who wish to compare the literary developments of those areas to Southeast Asia. The interdisciplinary approach suggests that literature has made a significant contribution to the social and political history of the region, and the authors address topics of significance to scholars of numerous disciplines including anthropology, cultural studies, history, literature, political science, and sociology.

“This is a delightful collection of essays that demonstrate that artful writing in Southeast Asia is still very much alive and kicking. In all the countries of the region—from Burma to the Philippines, from Thailand to Indonesia, from Vietnam to Singapore—short stories obviously are the predominant literary form in which authors not only explore the vigor of their national languages but also give often painful evidence of the central issues in their societies, as befits the public intellectuals they are. And for those who are in search of Southeast Asia, this book should serve as an outstanding and challenging guide.” —Hendrik Maier, University of California, Riverside

“Modern Short Fiction of Southeast Asia is a fascinating and timely volume that provides a comprehensive regional survey. Teri Yamada’s collection of literary histories ranges from chapters on the more widely researched areas of Southeast Asian literatures to those which rarely benefit from critical attention.” —Rachel Harrison, SOAS, University of London