) First edition | |
| Author | Johann S. Lee |
|---|---|
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Cannon International |
Publication date | 1992 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 981-00-3557-8 |
| OCLC | 29415955 |
| LC Class | MLCS 92/05580 (P) |
Peculiar Chris is a novel which deals with gay themes by Johann S. Lee, published in Singapore by Cannon International in 1992.
Lee wrote the book, his first novel,[1]:54 while doing his National Service in Singapore at the age of 19. It was published a year later. The book recounts the coming of age, and coming out, of Chris through his experience with the deaths of his father and his lover Samuel,[1]:54 the latter from AIDS.[2] Chris meets his first lover, Kenneth, in Singapore, where Kenneth has traveled from Indonesia to study; he meets his second lover, Jack, in Sydney after he travels to Australia to come out,[2][3] and leaves for London, the birthplace of Maurice, after Samuel's death.[2] It is also noteworthy for documenting how the military bureaucracy reacts when a soldier comes out in Singapore.[4]
The book was translated into Italian in 1997, under the shortened title of 'Chris'.
Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa'at adapted the novel into the play Happy Endings: Asian Boys Vol. 3. It was staged by W!LD RICE, a Singapore theatre company, from 11 to 29 July 2007.
It was reprinted in 2008.
References
- ^ a b Zubillaga-Pow, Jun (2017). "Kiasipolitics: Sagas, Scandals, and Suicides in Johann S. Lee's Peculiar Chris". In Yong Ade, Wernmei; Lee Ching, Lim (eds.). Contemporary Arts as Political Practice in Singapore. Springer. ISBN 9781137573445.
- ^ a b c Lim, Shirley Geok-lin (2003). "Regionalism, English Narrative, and Singapore as Home and Global City". In Bishop, Ryan; Philips, John; Yeo, Wei Wei (eds.). Postcolonial Urbanism: Southeast Asian Cities and Global Processes. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415932509.
- ^ Woolcock, Geoffrey; Altman, Dennis (2009). "The Largest Street Party in the World: The Gay and Lesbian Movement in Australia". In Adam, Barry D.; Duyvendak, Jan Willem; Krouwel, Andre (eds.). The Global Emergence of Gay and Lesbian Politics: National Imprints of a Worldwide Movement. Temple U. Press. p. 341.
- ^ Heng, Russell Hiang-Khng (2004). "Gay and Lesbian Literature (Singapore)". In Benson, Eugene; Conolly, L.W. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. Routledge. p. 568.