Touch Me Not

Touch Me Not (1887) is a novel by José Rizal that was originally conceived as a collaborative project by Filipino nationalist writers living in Madrid. Rizal wrote the novel alone, blending aspects of his own life story with his critique of Spanish imperialism in the Philippines. The novel was banned by Spanish authorities and smuggled into the Philippines, where it galvanized Rizal's fellow nationalists in opposition to the Spanish Empire. Crisóstomo Ibarra, a young mestizo man, returns home to Laguna province after the death of his father and learns that his father's death may not have been an accident. He is then threatened by a vast web of conspiracy involving Spanish authorities and Filipino revolutionaries, testing the limits of his loyalty to family and nation. This edition of the novel is a classic work of Filipino literature reimagined for modern readers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 468 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

"Touch Me Not" is a novel by José Rizal, published in Berlin in 1887. Initially, the novel was conceived as a collaborative project by a group of Filipino nationalist writers residing in Madrid. However, Rizal became disheartened by the lack of engagement from his comrades, leading him to write the novel entirely by himself. He seamlessly merged aspects of his own life story with his critical portrayal of Spanish imperialism in the Philippines. Despite being banned by Spanish authorities, the novel managed to smuggle into Rizal's home country, where it swiftly ignited the passion of his fellow nationalists against the Spanish Empire.

After spending seven years in Europe, Crisóstomo Ibarra, a young mestizo man, returns to his native Laguna province, seeking to rebuild his life after the untimely death of his father. During his visit to his father's grave, Crisóstomo encounters a sense of hostility from Padre Dámaso, a local curate who had been a close friend of his family. Unbeknownst to Crisóstomo, his father's death may not have been accidental, as he soon discovers through a series of revelations.

Driven by his unwavering commitment to building a school for the local children, Crisóstomo yearns to honor the legacy of Don Rafael Ibarras. However, his plans are disrupted when he learns that his father's body has been moved to a local Chinese burial ground, following an order issued by Padre Dámaso. As the story unfolds, a intricate web of conspiracy involving Spanish authorities and Filipino revolutionaries threatens Crisóstomo's life, while also putting his loyalty to family and nation to the ultimate test.

Presented in a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of "Touch Me Not" by José Rizal is a timeless masterpiece of Filipino literature, reimagined for contemporary readers. It serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made by the Filipino people in their quest for independence and self-determination."

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 134 x 212 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513134291