The Reign of Greed: Complete English Version of El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal - Trade Paperback

Dr. Jose Rizal's two novels, Noli Me Tangere (The Social cancer) and El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), have been credited as major elements that inspired the Philippine Revolution. While Pedro Paterno remains a footnote in literary history for writing the first Filipino novel, it is Rizal's two novels that have become classics and are still in print today. It is believed that the first novel, Noli Me Tangere, awakened and strengthened the Filipinos; spirit and feelings about their national rights, and El Filibusterismo, the sequel to the novel, helped greatly in erasing all obstacles and problems of the Revolution in 1896. This second novel gave impetus to the dreams and aspirations of the Filipino leading to new life, new endeavors, freedom that could be attained only by sheer labor and sacrifice. Dr. Rizal started writing El Filibuterismo five years after Noli me Tangere. He encountered the same problems ans obstacle that he had when he was writing the first novel. But difficulties did not deter the great man. He began writing the novel in 1890 and finished it in March 29, 1891. However, he thought he could not have it printed because of financial hardship, but through sheer determination, it was finally printed in September 1891. He offered the original manuscript to Valentin Ventura who aided. Unfortunately almost all the copies that he sent to his friends in Hongkong and the Philippines were found and destroyed by the Spanish government. A few copies, however, reached the people concerned and stirred them greatly for the uprising. In Rizal;s Pag-aalay, he said " Allow the flesh blood that you spilled for all Filipinos to drench your hands. Let the pages of this novel serve as leaves of the truth and expose real consitions in the country."