Linda Ty Casper
Encyclopedia
Linda Ty Casper is a Filipino
writer
who has published over fifteen book
s, including the historical novel
DreamEden and the political novels Awaiting Trespass, Wings of Stone, A Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in the Plaza. She has also published three collections of short stories which present a cross-section of Filipino society.
In 1992, Tides and Near Occasions of Love won the Philippine PEN short story prize; another at the UNESCO
International Writers' Day, London; and the SEAWrite Award in Bangkok
"Triptych for a Ruined Altar" was in the Roll of Honor of The Best American Short Stories
, 1977.
Her novel Awaiting Trespass which is about the politically sensitive theme of torture
by the Marcos regime
was published by Readers International of London
. This work gained her major critical attention in the United States
for the first time, and in Britain the novel was chosen as one of the five best works of fiction by a woman writer published in 1985-86 .
, Philippines
in 1931. She spent the World War II
years with her grandmother while her father worked in the Philippine National Railways
, and her mother in the Bureau of Public Schools. Her grandmother told her innumerable of stories about the Filipino’s struggle for independence, that later became the topics of her novels. Linda Ty Casper graduated valedictorian
in the University of the Philippines
, and later earned her Master's degree
in Harvard University for International Law
.
In 1956, she married Leonard Casper, a professor emeritus of Boston College
who is also a critic of Philippine Literature. They have two daughters and reside in Massachusetts
.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who has published over fifteen book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s, including the historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
DreamEden and the political novels Awaiting Trespass, Wings of Stone, A Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in the Plaza. She has also published three collections of short stories which present a cross-section of Filipino society.
In 1992, Tides and Near Occasions of Love won the Philippine PEN short story prize; another at the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
International Writers' Day, London; and the SEAWrite Award in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
"Triptych for a Ruined Altar" was in the Roll of Honor of The Best American Short Stories
Best American Short Stories
The Best American Short Stories yearly anthology is a part of The Best American Series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Since 1915, the BASS anthology has striven to contain the best short stories by some of the best-known writers in contemporary American literature.-Edward O'Brien:The...
, 1977.
Her novel Awaiting Trespass which is about the politically sensitive theme of torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
by the Marcos regime
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
was published by Readers International of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This work gained her major critical attention in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the first time, and in Britain the novel was chosen as one of the five best works of fiction by a woman writer published in 1985-86 .
Biography
Born as Belinda Ty in MalabonMalabon City
The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 363,681 as of 2007. It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1931. She spent the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years with her grandmother while her father worked in the Philippine National Railways
Philippine National Railways
The Philippine National Railways , or PNR, is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines, operating a single line of track on Luzon. As of 2010, it operates one commuter rail service in Metro Manila and a second in the Bicol Region. PNR restored its intercity service to the Bicol region in 2011...
, and her mother in the Bureau of Public Schools. Her grandmother told her innumerable of stories about the Filipino’s struggle for independence, that later became the topics of her novels. Linda Ty Casper graduated valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
in the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, and later earned her Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Harvard University for International Law
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
In 1956, she married Leonard Casper, a professor emeritus of Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
who is also a critic of Philippine Literature. They have two daughters and reside in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Published works
- The Transparent Sun (short stories), Peso Books, 1963
- The Peninsulares (historical novel), Bookmark 1964
- The Secret Runner (short stories), Florentino/National Book, 1974
- The Three-Cornered Sun (historical novel), New Day, 1974
- Dread Empire (novella), Hong Kong, Heinemann, 1980
- Hazards of Distance (novella), New Day, 1981
- Fortress in the Plaza (novella), New Day, 1985
- Awaiting Trespass (novella), London, Readers International, 1985
- Wings of Stone (novella), London, Readers International, 1986
- Ten Thousand Seeds (historical novel), Ateneo, 1987
- A Small Party in a Garden (novella), New Day, 1988
- Common Continent (short stories), Ateneo, 1991
- Kulasyon: Uninterrupted Vigils (collected first chapters), Giraffe, 1995
- DreamEden (historical novel) Ateneo 1996 and University of Washington Press 1997
Awards
- Djerassi, 1984
- Filipino-American Women Network Award for Literature, 1985
- Massachusetts Artists Foundation, 1988
- Wheatland, 1990
- UNESCO/P.E.N. Short Story, 1993
- SEA Write Award, Bangkok, 1993
- Bellagio, 1994