The Immolation

Singapore Classics

by Goh Poh Seng

Regarded as one of the pioneers of Singapore literature, Goh Poh Seng takes on larger-than-life themes in his most ambitious novel, which is set in post-war Vietnam. In The Immolation, Goh’s take on issues of national identity, war, and self-discovery has contemporary relevance not just to Asian readers, but an international audience.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2011

About the author

Goh Poh Seng was a playwright, novelist and poet, regarded as a pioneer of Singaporean literature in English. A medical doctor by training, his first novel If We Dream Too Long is widely recognised as the first Singaporean English-langauge novel, while his play When Smiles Are Done is one of the first instances of the use of Singlish in drama. Goh also released five books of poetry, founded the literary magazine Tumasek and formed Centre 65 to promote the arts. In addition, he chaired the National Theatre Trust and was Vice-Chairman of the Arts Council from 1967 to 1973. Goh received the Cultural Medallion for Literature in 1982 and emigrated to Canada in 1986. He passed away in 2010, leaving behind his wife Margaret, four sons and three grandchildren.

Reviews

[nicothyun · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was kind of a sleeper for me. it's set in the midst of vietnam war where nothing pretty much happens in the book. thanh is arrested by revolutionary fever and joins the communist. he moves to a rural village, becomes traumatized by war and his friends dying one after another. it results in him losing faith and questioning his purpose.

the book ends with an ambiguous ending for readers are expected to imagine if he drops out of the fight or not. i definitely prefer his first book 'if we dream too long'.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, but a bit overly obvious/heavy-handed in its use of the background of the Vietnam War and centered largely on the mental striations of the narrator. The dialogue in the beginning between the narrator and his father was well done.