New Hidalgo book out

MANILA, Philippines - Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo’s latest book, Fabulists and Chroniclers, contains critical comments on such contemporary issues as: How do memoirs and travel essays function as social history? How do Filipino women writers “perform” the modern wonder tale? Is Latin American fiction the source of Philippine marvelous realism or are our own novelists mining a more powerful, native lode? Have its close connections with academe enriched or diminished Philippine literature in English?

Hidalgo also takes a look at chick lit, the modern crime novel, and the literary blog.

But what the ordinary reader may find most useful and interesting is the essay which traces the development of Philippine fiction in English from its beginnings in the early 20th century to its most recent developments in the work of such young writers as Kit Kwe and Anna Sanchez. This essay should serve as a crash course on the state of the Philippine novel and the short story in English today.

Fabulists and Chroniclers’ cover design and artwork is by young artist Rex Dasig Aguilar. The book retails at P250, available at the UP Press Bookstore in Diliman, National Book Store, and Powerbooks.