Monday 9 March 2009

Towards a Malay novel canon for the 20th century

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in association with a company called Rhythm Consolidated has come up with a list of the 42 most important Malay novels of the 20th century. (Why 42? Who knows?) The novels are being reprinted in hardcover (I just saw a whole bunch at Kinokunya), but they are being rolled out gradually rather than all at once.

Unfortunately the list doesn't seem to be anywhere online, so I will type it out myself from the back pages of one of the novels I bought. 2/3 of the novels have been released so far. In chronological order:

1932: Melati Sarawak - Muhammad Rakawi Yusuf

1939: Melati Kota Bharu - A. Kadir Adabi

1959: Musafir - Hasan Ali

1961: Salina - A. Samad Said

1963: Tikus Rahmat - Hassan Ibrahim

1964: Desa Pingitan - Ibrahim Omar

1966: Biru Warna - Awang Had Salleh

1971: Interlok - Abdullah Hussein

1971: Sandera - Arena Wati

1973: Srengenge - Shahnon Ahmad

1976:
Juara - S. Othman Kelantan

1979:
Hari-Hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman - Anwar Ridhwan

1979: Ngayau - Amil Jaya

1981-5: Lepaskan Aku Kembali Ke Laut (Vol 1-3) - Shaari Isa

1982: Saudagar Besar Dari Kuala Lumpur - Keris Mas

1982:
Seorang Tua di Kaki Gunung - Azizi Haji Abdullah

1986:
Rimba Harapan - Keris Mas

1986: Senjakala - Baharuddin Kahar

1987: Hujan Pagi - A. Samad Said

1987:
Sakura Mengorak Kelopak - Arena Wati

1988:
Tunggul-Tunggul Gerigis - Shahnon Ahmad

1990:
Empangan - Zakaria Ali

1990: Jaringan - Rosmini Shaari

1993: Panrita - Arena Wati

1994: Pemberontakan - Jong Chian Lai

1996: Menongkah Lumrah - Azmah Nordin

So there are 14 titles yet to be released, anywhere from the years 1925 - 1996.

The ones in red are the ones I have read, or plan to get to any month now. (Ahem!)

11 comments:

pie said...

I'm always waiting for your books review...
I have read Salina and Saudagar Besar Dari Kuala Lumpur(have to read. Coz this novel used in form6). Hope you can review it...I think I have read Rimba Harapan too...Jungle of Hope for English literature component SPM...

HajarAznam said...

Seorang Tua Di kaki Gunung is the best!!!

Amir Muhammad said...

Pity that "Kawin-Kawin" was not a 20th century book (published 2002).

fadz said...

Kepulangan by Fatimah Busu should be in..

Anonymous said...

azizi hj abdullah is one of the best novelis in Malaysia

Amir Muhammad said...

Fan, he should have been Sasterawan Negara some time ago but the birokrat are probably too scared of his political leanings. Oh well.

Fadz, Fatimah's "Ombak Bukan Biru" book is in, according to a blog post I read by, I think, Nisah Haron.

Unknown said...

You can find the list from this link.

http://malay.rhythm.com.my/novelClassic.asp

I believe the list is incomplete as Rhythm was planning to print the books in phases.

I'm not very sure whether this project will be continued....

Amir Muhammad said...

Terima kasey! Cis - penat je orang taip.

Anonymous said...

woah. cam best.
dulu ada tgk Salina jual kat mph. kejap je abes.
antara list tu, yang deennasour ni ada cuma 2 jerk,
saudagar besar dari kuala lumpur, and senjakala.

velvet yuki said...

nk tanye..dekat mane sy boleh beli novel empangan nie?

Amir Muhammad said...

Ia diterbitkan oleh DBP, ce tanya mereka.