Books & Literature

This index is work in progress. Links to book chapters will be added here as they're published. El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) English Translation Complete Chapters Related Reading: … [Read more...] about El Filibusterismo English Translation Index of Chapters

I must admit, I’ve paid less attention to El Filibusterismo than I have its predecessor Noli Me Tangere. This is despite having had the same set of circumstances surrounding my introduction to Rizal’s second novel as I did his first --- I had an equally passionate Filipino literature teacher, and I again had the good fortune of witnessing the brilliant John Arcilla breathe life … [Read more...] about El Filibusterismo Index of Chapter Summaries

I wish there’d been more chapters, if only to explore Simoun’s passage to redemption, or at least to discover Basilio’s fate. I wonder if, at this time, Rizal had become too weary to press on. Chapter 36: Ben-Zayb’s Afflictions Ben-Zayb writes an exaggerated account of what happened at the wedding party, making the Captain-General and the distinguished guests appear … [Read more...] about El Filibusterismo Chapter Summaries 36-39

After all that suffering across two books, you’d have hoped the oppressors would have dined on thorny karma by now. But alas, it is only the oppressed that suffer some more. Basilio, Pecson, Isagani, I’m glad you only exist in fiction, or my heart would’ve been doubly shredded by now. Chapter 31: The High Official The girl’s death[1] and even her identity are … [Read more...] about El Filibusterismo Chapter Summaries 31-35