Description
When an old man wakes to find that the world around him has turned hostile with sudden revulsion, his life is thrown into a crisis of identity, belonging, and moral reckoning. In this novel, Albert Wendt weaves the intimate story of Faleasa Osovae with the resonant Malaelua saga of the mythological hero Pili, drawing parallels between legend and lived experience. Through this dual narrative, the book explores the complexities of Samoan society—family obligations, social judgment, and the fragile boundaries between dignity and shame—while asking what it truly means to be human when perception itself becomes a threat. Wendt’s lyrical, culturally grounded storytelling blends mythic resonance with psychological depth, creating a powerful meditation on transformation, community, and the costs of survival.
Available Editions
paperback
University of Hawaii Press
Published Jan 1, 1977
147 pages
ISBN: 9780824807283
Reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first!
No written reviews yet.
Details
First Published
1977
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Pouliuli by Albert Wendt.