[Hot Off the Press] Character

New release from the Ateneo Press Character redefines the essay through portraits of colorful personalities 

Acclaimed scholar and fiction writer Caroline S. Hau examines the differing hues and depths of real and imagined personalities in her ingenious new book, Character. A new release from the Ateneo Press, this book merges literature and history to characterize and contextualize people, places, and events from the pre-Hispanic to the post-EDSA eras.

The essays in this volume delve into the many ways the word “character” can be explored and studied, whether as distinguishing features or traits, ideas, constructs, mental and moral qualities, reputations, marks of courage, and so on. Hau delves into the complexities of a variety of characters from Rizal heroine Maria Clara to president’s mistress Dovie Beams, from tidying expert Marie Kondo to kasambahay Eudocia Tomas Pulido, plus women warriors, tiger mothers, lifestyle gurus, bestselling authors, misbehaving presidents, an outlier country called the Philippines, and a serial killer or two. These characters are viewed from both a macro and micro perspective as the book intertwines discussions on intimacy and domesticity with issues of politics, economy, culture, and society within and beyond the Philippines. 

Hau expands our understanding of nation and region, redefining along the way the essay as both a scholarly and literary genre. These compelling, sometimes controversial characters, and the debates surrounding them, hold a mirror to the multitude of issues that afflict our country today. A unique and unconventional blend of scholarly analysis and literary creativity, Character is perfect for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of the intersections of history and literature.  

About the Author

Caroline S. Hau is professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.

Character by Caroline S. Hau is published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press under the Bughaw imprint. The book is available at the Ateneo University Press Bookshop in Bellarmine Hall, and the Press’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

Get your copy in paperback: Website | Lazada and Shopee