A Second Life for Linda Ty-Casper’s Novel, ‘Three-Cornered Sun’
A Collage of Linda Ty-Casper’s book covers
Her most memorable books are historical and political fiction documenting significant events in Philippine history: the Spanish and Philippine-American periods, and the Marcos Dictatorship, for instance. Some titles include Dread Empire; The Peninsulares; Fortress in the Plaza; A Small Party in a Garden; Wings of Stone; Awaiting Trespass. among others.
But while Linda sets her stories during crucial historical moments, her characters are what make her stories work. These complex characters portray the suffering as well as the resilience of the Filipino during memorable historical turning points. That these should not be forgotten no doubt factored into Exploding Galaxies’ decision to reprint Linda’s internationally acclaimed Three-Cornered Sun, a historical novel about the Filipino revolution against Spain.
“The Three-Cornered Sun”
Exploding Galaxies is a new publishing house founded by Mara Sy-Coson. Its mission is to rediscover lost Philippine classics, and it plans to publish two to four books of fiction of its choice each year.
In 2023, Exploding Galaxies released its first publication, Wilfrido Nolledo’s But for the Lovers, a World War II novel about Filipinos navigating the chaos and destruction under Japanese Occupation in war-torn Manila. Nolledo had written this after he had gone to Iowa Writers Workshop as a Fullbright scholar in 1965. It was first published in 1970 by Dutton in New York. In 1994, long after the title was remaindered (or discontinued), Texas-based Dalkey Archive Press reissued it. Unfortunately, both editions were never easily available to Filipinos, and the novel basically slipped out of the consciousness of Filipino readers.
It’s ironic that while many Filipino writers hanker to be published by big Western publishers, which Nolledo had accomplished, his work became largely inaccessible to the readers who should have been most interested in it -- including Filipino teachers and students who could have discussed it, written about it and kept the book relevant.
Thanks to Exploding Galaxies, Nolledo’s But for the Lovers is available in the Philippines, amazingly, for the first time.
Linda Ty-Casper’s Three-Cornered Sun, scheduled for release in March 2024 by Exploding Galaxies, met a somewhat similar fate as Nolledo’s work. Three-Cornered Sun was first published by New Day in 1974, which at the time was under the leadership of Mrs. Gloria Rodriguez, an avid fan of Philippine literature. Despite the novel’s critical acclaim, New Day let the book go out of print, and this important novel, as Exploding Galaxies described it, became “forgotten.” Fortunately, Exploding Galaxies acquired the reprint rights, and Linda’s novel can once again be a part of contemporary Filipino literary conversation.
Linda Ty-Casper
I recently asked Linda about Three-Cornered Sun, how long it took to write it, what inspired her to do it, and what she hopes this new edition will accomplish. She said it took years to start and revise the novel as she wanted it to be right and true. (I know Linda personally and professionally, and I can vouch for the care and attention she gives her research, writing, and editing.)
Her grandmother -- Nanay -- enjoyed telling stories to a young Linda, accounts about the revolution against Spain and the war with the Americans. She used to talk to Linda about the battles in San Isidro and about their relatives, who later inspired characters in her novels. Her Nanay used to end her stories by saying, “Someone should write about this.”
Linda did not forget her grandmother’s stories and wish. When Linda was in Harvard law school, on a stormy day when classes were canceled, she went to the Widener Library intended to pass the time. It became a turning point in her life. She came across history books that were, as she put it, “most prejudiced against us.” She realized then the need for Filipinos to write their own history. “Our side of history needs to be told, recognized,” she emphasized.
She abandoned law for fiction-writing and never looked back. Just recently, she released a book about her husband, the critic Leonard R. Casper, which she had compiled and edited.
What inspires her to write? “I don’t deliberately sit down to write,” she replied. The first line of a short story or novel may come while she is weeding or attending meetings of her various groups (Boston Authors, PEN Women Wellesley, Iskwelahang Pilipino, Daily Mass Group in church, among others). Her husband, Len, encouraged her writing and urged her to send out manuscripts that she kept revising.
“Writing suited me. I’m a quiet person. Maybe I was really meant to write. As Nanay said, things will happen because they are supposed to. And I think writing is worth it. Our stories need to be known. It is through them that the world knows us, imagines us. It is the way we get to know who we are, who we should be/become.”
She emphasized: “I would like young readers, especially, to know that. To be proud of who they are, to trust themselves to the future because of the many before them who made our history happen by taking part in the revolutions and wars. Not every hero, as we know it, is known. But there have been many heroic people in our history, and because of them we can resist dictatorship, elect those who have the interest of the country at heart, not their own advancements. We cannot leave the country to politicians who will despoil it and even sell it.”
“Her grandmother -- Nanay -- enjoyed telling stories to a young Linda, accounts about the revolution against Spain and the war with the Americans.”
Linda Ty-Casper is fortunate that as a writer, her words and stories continue to be part of Filipino literary awareness. Aside from Exploding Galaxies, the Ateneo Press is interested in her work. In 2023, Ateneo Press released the Philippine edition of Will You Happen, Past the Silence, Through Dark: Remembering Leonard Ralph Casper, a collection of Len Casper’s letters and writings. (“Len’s memoirs,” as Linda refers to this book, was first published in 2022 by PALH in the US.) I understand there are other Philippine publishers interested in reissuing Linda’s novels, but they have to thresh out rights issues with the former publishers; not an easy task at times.
For further information about Linda’s Three-Cornered Sun contact Exploding Galaxies at https://explodinggalaxies.com/.
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the author and editor of over 20 books, including three novels: When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Magdalena, and The Newspaper Widow. Her Selected Short Stories was awarded the 40th National Book Award for Best Book Short Fiction in English. She edited three volumes of the popular anthologies for young adults: Growing Up Filipino, Growing Up Filipino II, and Growing Up Filipino 3. Her official website is ceciliabrainard.com.
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