The Greatest South Asian Literature
This selection of Southeast Asian literature encompasses all literary forms, genres and periods. It includes works acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars in Southeast Asia and around the world.
For this list, Southeast Asia is defined as including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and several other countries that exist or have existed in the area south of China and east of South Asia.
The Greatest Southeast Asian Literature focuses on the region's major creative works—such as novels, novellas, plays, long poetry and collections.
You may also be interested in The Greatest South Asian Literature, The Greatest Chinese Literature or The Greatest Japanese Literature.
This list is updated as new works are discovered and appreciation of older works evolves. Please note the revision date when citing the list.
Latest update: October 19, 2025
The 22 greatest works of Southeast Asian literature
c.1400–1612
Malay Annals
by Anonymous, Malaysia
History, originally Sejarah Melayu
c.1500
Lilit Phra Lo
by Anonymous, Thailand
Long poem
c.1866–1870
The Precious Gift
by Raja Ali Haji, Malaysia
History, originally Tuhfat al-Nafis
1904
Maung Yin Maung, Ma Me Ma
by James Hla Kyaw, Myanmar
Novel
1906
From Early Dawn to Full Light
by Lope K. Santos, Philippines
Novel, originally Banaag at Sikat
1907
History of Panay
by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, Philippines
History, fully titled History of Panay from the first inhabitants and the Bornean immigrants, from which they descended, to the arrival of the Spaniards, originally Maragtas
1911
Letters of a Javanese Princess
by Raden Adjeng Kartini, Indonesia
Letters, originally Door Duisternis tot Licht (From Dark Comes Light)
1980–1988
The Buru Quartet
by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia
Novel series
1983
Crocodile's Tear
by Palanca Awardee and Amado V. Hernandez, Philippines
Novel, originally Luha ng Buwaya
1988
Paradise of the Blind
by Duong Thu Huong, Vietnam
Novel, originally Những thiên đường mù
1991
The Sorrow of War
by Bảo Ninh, Vietnam
Novel, originally Nỗi buồn chiến tranh
1992
The Painted Alphabet
by Diana Darling, Indonesia
Novel
1994
June Rain
by Sapardi Djoko Damono, Indonesia
Poetry collection, originally Hujan Bulan Juni: Pilihan Sajak
2001
Supernova
by Dewi Lestari, Indonesia
Novel series
2002
Beauty Is a Wound
by Eka Kurniawan, Indonesia
Novel
From the Land of Green Ghosts
by Pascal Khoo Thwe, Myanmar
Memoir, subtitled A Burmese Odyssey
2004–2005
Indiana Chronicle
by Clara Ng, Indonesia
Novel
2005
The Rainbow Troops
by Andrea Hirata, Indonesia
Novel, originally Laskar Pelangi
2008
The River of Lost Footsteps
by Thant Myint-U, Myanmar
History, subtitled A Personal History of Burma
2011
The Garden of Evening Mists
by Tan Twan Eng, Malaysia
Novel
The Wandering
by Intan Paramaditha, Indonesia
Novel, subtitled Choose Your Own Red-Shoes Adventure, originally Gentayangan: Piling Sendai Petulant Separate Humeral
2022
Water song
by Clarissa Okinawan, Indonesia
Novel
