The Votive Pen

Explore 'The Votive Pen', a profound exploration of Singapore's unofficial Poet-Laureate, Edwin Thumboo. This trade paperback delves into the intricate layers of Thumboo's poetry, a compelling blend of intellectual brilliance and emotional depth. Born to Tamil and Teochew heritage, Thumboo embodies a dynamic identity shaped by his Protestant faith and extensive literary influences, from Yeats to post-colonial African poetry. This insightful collection reveals how Thumboo grapples with Singapore's complex, multiracial identity amid fierce economic transformation. Readers will find an earnest examination of the intertwining of personal sentiment and national identity within his verses, allowing for a truly immersive experience into the heart of contemporary poetry. The Votive Pen is a must-have for poetry enthusiasts and those interested in post-colonial literature. With its engaging narrative and critical perspective, it invites readers to appreciate the profound insights of a poet whose work resonates with universal themes while remaining firmly rooted in Singaporean experiences. Enjoy FREE shipping with your order! Please note, combined shipping for other products is not available with this item. Allow up to 10 days for shipping.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9789814882132
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2021
Publisher: Penguin India
Pages: 280


Description:
A rivetting look at the fiercely original, intellectually brilliant mind of Singapore's unofficial Poet-Laureate, Edwin Thumboo. Born of Tamil and Teochew parents, he 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.

This product has FREE shipping however combined shipping for other products is not available with this item. Please allow up to 10 days for shipping.