Re‐evaluating the Rise of Anglophone Malaysian Historical Fiction in the Twenty‐First Century

ABSTRACT

Since the turn of the century, anglophone Malaysian historical fiction has gained significant global recognition, so much so that it has become the dominant genre. However, notwithstanding this enviable evolution in the country's English‐language literature, it is not without issues, due to the genre's somewhat orientalist representation of the country resulting from its commodification for the global market and its sidelining of other genres. This article will address these issues following a clarification of what precisely constitutes anglophone Malaysian historical fiction. Throughout the discussion, select historical novels such as Rani Manicka's The Rice Mother , Tash Aw's The Harmony Silk Factory , and Tan Twan Eng's The Gift of Rain , as well as works from other genres, will be investigated to reinforce the observations postulated.