The Samsons: Two Novels in the Rosales Saga, the Pretenders and Mass

by F. Sionil José

The opening novel of the critically acclaimed Rosales Saga, a triumphant cycle that captures one hundred years of tumultuous Philippine history and can be compared to Marques's One Hundred Years of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375752447
• ISBN13: 9780375752445
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Modern Library
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

MASS

Please can you give me the novel analysis of Sionil Jose's MASS. The summary of it, setting, plot, theme, characters and summary of each chapter. Thanks a lot! in advnace. It's a great help.

My Brother My Executioner

pls give me the novel analysis of the novel of Sionil Jose My Brother My Executioner. The summary of it the setting the plot the theme the characters the summary of each chapter

the pretenders

pls give me the novel analysis of the novel of Sionil Jose THE PRETENDERS. The summary of it the setting the plot the theme the characters the summary of each chapter

Great insights, but no way out

"There has to be a revolution, and I hope that I will live to see it" is what F. Sionil Jose says about the subject. The two books that comprise The Samsons show why this is so. Antonio Samson, a son of poor parents, whose father is in prison for leading a rebellion against his landlord, goes to the US on a stipend to study. There he writes a book about the illustrados, the landowning class and develops revolutionary ideas how his homecounty has to be changed. Then he meets and marries the daughter of an illustrado, and subsequentially becomes an illustrado himself. It becomes clear that everybody can be corrupted, and as Antonio Samson realizes this, he commits suicide. Incidentally, the story of Pepe, his illetigimate son, goes otherwise around. Self-centered first, he enters into student politics to make money and be able to eat every day. But when he gets emotionally involved into the movement, he finds out, that his brotherhood is corrupted by the illustrados. After killing one of them, he decides to go to the mountains to fight, as there seems to be no other way.F. Sionil Jose makes it clear: There can be no just society with the landowning class, the traditionell politicians, and the chances of a revolution by the poor people are rather small, but they only chances there are. Two novels, or a powerful political statement.