born november poet academic regarded pioneers english literature singapore graduated english applied position university rejected locals held academic posts time worked civil service years finally joining university renamed following singapore independence received university rose position professor heading department merger form dean faculty arts longest serving dean chairman director university centre arts continues associated university emeritus professor position held retiring time teaching september poetry inspired myth history dubbed singapore unofficial poet poems themes pioneer local english literature compiled edited english poetry fiction singapore malaysia collections poetry include rib earth map latest anthology travelling consisting poems published won times received inaugural write award cultural literature cultural communication award literature award conferred additional bar services medal conceived national poetry festival singapore early years born singapore november eldest children tamil chinese housewife merchant family siblings grew speaking english family financially comfortable home neighbourhood electricity mixed child called names said fostered determination self respect completed primary education japanese occupation singapore helped family selling tending goats working following war studied finishing victoria school place began writing poetry age years encouraged senior english master considers spiritual father later dedicated rib earth collection poetry published undergraduate time member counted members early literary pioneers singapore education career english literature history freshman member editorial board radical leftist journal published seventh issue appeared contained editorial entitled aggression asia advocated independence united_kingdom days later chinese middle school students clashed police result weeks arrested british colonial government seven students trial minister mentor prime minister club legal adviser arranged british queen act defence lee junior counsel students acquitted charge district judge graduated bachelor_of_arts honours english hoping teach pursue degree applied position university rejected locals held academic posts time entered civil service working assistant secretary year following singapore independence joined assistant lecturer conducting doctoral research african poetry english received university professor heading department merged form dean faculty arts longest serving dean academic taught drama romantic poets malaysian creative writing subjects research interests included modern novel lawrence novels empire commonwealth literature including writer william_shakespeare roman plays headed introduced study english english language major graduates better equipped teach english schools junior colleges appointed fellow continues associated university emeritus professor position held retired time teaching september served chairman director university centre arts held visiting universities australia chairman vii writer residence professor member east west centre hawaii member oklahoma usa miller visiting professor visiting professor writer residence new south wales visiting fellow worked help establish secondary school junior college students singapore continues mentor young poets programme poetry influence 1950s wrote lyrical poetry based personal experiences displaying influence english literary tradition dealt aesthetic themes mid-1970s shifted focus public sphere believing poets post independence singapore work creating national literature singapore national life key subject collection poetry gods die said subsequent map established reputation national poet committed cultural vision singapore dubbed singapore unofficial poet poems themes notably august published anthology role promoting singapore literature example work general editor literary journal references iconic statue beast upper body lion tail fish called faces inspired use irish mythology history irish poet asserted significant influence recognizes parallels ireland struggle singapore describes myth inspired poet sees myths ancient narratives structures provide stable point reference society prompted poets write themed verses joked regarded true singapore poet written poem copy installed plaque near statue history features strongly poetry said history enters writing ought enter writing importance lives point historical moments occupy colony multi racial created british need history sense things discover certain areas define individuals groups multi racial society sense belonging happens inherited identity conscious absorbed taken live singapore likes set interests set values set responsibilities history fully inclusive fully terms personal limits includes beliefs significance irrelevant august said powerful legacy creation singapore literature english pioneering role commenting people writing feeling create don stand look pioneer need help creating compiled edited english poetry singapore malaysia including seven poets general editor sponsored committee culture information entitled poetry singapore addition collections poetry mentioned published volumes poetry children called child delight collection called travelling anthology consisting poems published october launch book entitled departures returns essays associate professor said dual theoretical discourse scholar discourse poet enable capture flow experience present variety different ways accessible variety individuals come writes driven communicate better world rolls act waiting world change friendships represent hope better world imperfect impact measured words words tools trade capture ideas values gods die selected english singapore books alongside titles awards won times gods die map received inaugural write award cultural literature october presented address meeting presented contributions literature indian conferred additional bar services medal select fuller list works viewed papers centre arts july archived original april retrieved august edited provides comprehensive listing works selection poems available july archived original april retrieved august poetry collections rib earth singapore vol malaysia child delight vol malaysia gods die singapore asia singapore map singapore isbn friend poems singapore isbn travelling singapore isbn best singapore books isbn edited poetry selected writings singapore malaysia singapore seven poets singapore malaysia singapore second tongue anthology poetry malaysia singapore singapore asia anthology singapore published sponsorship isbn published sponsorship isbn isbn isbn journeys words home nation anthology singapore poetry singapore isbn singapore isbn words poems singapore singapore isbn works literature liberation essays southeast_asia manila philippines pub house words 25th readings singapore isbn worlds singapore isbn english need commitment asia selection westerly isbn writer historical witness studies singapore isbn cultures 21st century singapore isbn singapore isbn tribute singapore isbn literary creativity world handbook world mass isbn writing asia vol inside asia pacific singapore isbn series vol studies singapore isbn series vol studies singapore isbn personal life poems biblical themes reflecting fact born protestant christian family baptized adult wife live suburban area central northwestern singapore son julian head daughter claire physician seven grandchildren dedicated travelling articles june literary encyclopedia retrieved august peter interviewer interviewed world literature written english interview muse interviews modern malaysian oxford books bennett bruce poet traveller poetry singapore isbn responsibility commitment poetry singapore isbn nelson writers indian isbn hamilton english oxford isbn people poetry singapore isbn peter creating nation poetry singapore isbn introduction second tongue anthology poetry malaysia singapore singapore asia archived original april essays singapore isbn essays singapore isbn news reports earth review map return
Edwin Thumboo