Scattered Bones

Tulang-Tulang Berserakan (1966) is the only novel written by the late Malaysian National Laureate Usman Awang and is now translated into English by Dr. Hasnah Ibrahim and edited by Furziah Affendi. Part of it is a life biography of Usman and the other part comes from his early life experiences as a Jungle Squad police during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. The dramatic storyline that unfolds in this novel takes place during the Emergency period in Malaya after World War II.

The pain and hardships endured by the people, suppressed by the sufferings of war and at the same time faced with the conflicts between The Colonial British Empire and Malayan Communists fighting for control over Malaya.

The result of this long hard journey through this novel at last is the start of Usman's literary career.