Description: Combining poems by contemporary Burmese poets along with their life stories. The book demonstrates the power of the written word and is both a parallel story of Burmese political turmoil and the life-affirming power of literature.
The history of Myanmar can be told through its poets, from the fight against colonialism to the modern day struggle for democracy. Much of this tradition is barely known in the west. Frontline Poets is an inspiring, revelatory and heart wrenching account of how several poets in Myanmar ditched their comfortable lives to join dangerous protests, form armed groups and to be on the front line of a revolution.Brief description: Aung Naing Soe is a Burmese filmmaker and journalist. As a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow at Arizona State University, he covered immigration, the coronavirus outbreak, and the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2020, he went home for the general election and witnessed the military coup. He now covers civil unrest in Myanmar from his base in Thailand.
Review Quotes: "The new book explains how published poetry, readings and events form part of Myanmar's cultural fabric. Poetry has a strong record of challenging authority, including British rule and a previous junta that seized power in 1988."--Alex Spillius "The Sunday Times"