August 15, 2012

A pioneer of Singapore English language literature, and currently Emeritus Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Edwin Thumboo has been a major cultural figure in Singapore over the course of decades. Fittingly, a collection featuring his best poetry has been published this year, providing a comprehensive reader for the canonical Singaporean poet.

Titled The Best of Edwin Thumboo, the book is part of Epigram Books’ Singapore Pioneer Poets series and collects a selection of Thumboo’s poetry divided into five sections: “Roots,” “Feeling History,” “All In All,” “People, Moments, Places,” and “Numinous & Making.” Across these five sections, the poems engage with themes ranging from Singapore’s history and people to Thumboo’s family, upbringing, and the creative impulse.

A book event for the Singapore Pioneer Poets series will be held on 14 September 2012 at 7.30p.m. at The Arts House Play Den. The three authors in the series—Edwin Thumboo, Robert Yeo, and Kirpal Singh—will read at the event.