The Greatest Southeast Asian Literature
This selection is based on The Greatest Literature of All Time and further research into the major creative literature of Southeast Asia acclaimed by the world's readers, writers, critics and scholars.
For more details, see "What's on this list and what isn't".
The 22 greatest works of Southeast Asia
Latest update: May 11, 2026
c.1500
Lilit Phra Lo
by Anonymous, Thailand
Long poem
c.1630
The Life of Lamang
by Pedro Bucaneg, Philippines
Epic poem, originally Biag ni Lam-ang
1838
Florante at Laura
by Francisco Balagtas, Philippines
Epic poem
1885
Nínay
by Pedro Alejandro Paterno, Philippines
Novel
1904
Maung Yin Maung, Ma Me Ma
by James Hla Kyaw, Myanmar
Novel
1906
From Early Dawn to Full Light
by Lope K. Santos, Philippines
Novel, originally Banaag at Sikat
1980–1988
The Buru Quartet
by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia
Novel series
1983
Crocodile's Tear
by Palanca Awardee and Amado V. Hernandez, Philippines
Novel, originally Luha ng Buwaya
1988
Paradise of the Blind
by Duong Thu Huong, Vietnam
Novel, originally Những thiên đường mù
1991
The Sorrow of War
by Bảo Ninh, Vietnam
Novel, originally Nỗi buồn chiến tranh
1992
The Painted Alphabet
by Diana Darling, Indonesia
Novel
1994
June Rain
by Sapardi Djoko Damono, Indonesia
Poetry collection, originally Hujan Bulan Juni: Pilihan Sajak
2001
Supernova
by Dewi Lestari, Indonesia
Novel series
2002
Beauty Is a Wound
by Eka Kurniawan, Indonesia
Novel
From the Land of Green Ghosts
by Pascal Khoo Thwe, Myanmar
Memoir, subtitled A Burmese Odyssey
2004–2005
Indiana Chronicle
by Clara Ng, Indonesia
Novel
2005
The Rainbow Troops
by Andrea Hirata, Indonesia
Novel, originally Laskar Pelangi
2008
The River of Lost Footsteps
by Thant Myint-U, Myanmar
History, subtitled A Personal History of Burma
2011
The Garden of Evening Mists
by Tan Twan Eng, Malaysia
Novel
The Wandering
by Intan Paramaditha, Indonesia
Novel, subtitled Choose Your Own Red-Shoes Adventure, originally Gentayangan: Piling Sendai Petulant Separate Humeral
2021
Nothing but Blackened teeth
by Cassandra Khaw, Malaysia
Novel
2022
Water song
by Clarissa Okinawan, Indonesia
Novel
