El Filibusterismo

El Filibusterismo (Ghent, 1891) (occasionally translated as Subversion or The Reign of Greed) is the second novel of Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal (1861 - 1896). He wrote it in Spanish, printed it in Belgium and despite its small print run, the books smuggled back to Manila had an astonishing impact on the society. The satirical descriptions of the abuses of the Spanish colonial regime, led by the Church,upon Filipino citizens contributed to the uprising that took place in 1898. Rizal himself was sentenced to death by firing squad in 1896 for writing this book and its predecessor, Noli Me Tangere (Berlin, 1877). Its title is sometimes translated as Touch Me Not although this translator prefers to keep the title as in the original. El Filibusterismo continues and concludes the story established in Noli Me Tangere. The book includes a summary of the plot of the Noli for those who have not read the first book. The main enjoyment of it comes in the depiction of the characters. There has also been academic analysis of this text in relation to other revolutionary movements going on in the world at the time. This is a translation into English by Filipino "Diplomat-Scholar" Leon Ma. Guerrero. The translation was originally published in London in 1965 by Longmans. This edition was published in Manila by the Estate of Leon Ma. Guerrero in 2009. A new edition is available from Anvil Books in 2019. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the country's leading newspaper, called this: Easily the most readable translation.