Narrative
A Crazy Man's Shoulder Bag
Not translated into English
Hmawbi Saya Thein · 1910
Synopsis
A collection of anecdotes, drawn from what the author gathered while travelling the country: traditions, stories passed on by word of mouth, manuscripts and old objects. The texts sit side by side like a collector's finds, with no overall plan; the title speaks of a madman's shoulder bag.
Context
Published first one by one in the press, the texts of the collection were then gathered into a volume, and the book was for a long time compulsory reading in Burmese schools. The date of the first edition is not established: the year given here is an estimate. The author's collected works appeared in Yangon in 2000, in Burmese and English, from the Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association.
Who it is for
Short texts in Burmese, to be read in fragments, in whatever order one likes; no French translation.
Prizes and reception
Long required reading in Burmese schools, it is one of the two books cited for its author.