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Monday, May 19, 2008

In search of: Libertine's Destiny by P. Anciers

I read a copy of Libertine's Destiny in college. It was not placed in the general circulation or reserved section, but the only copy was kept under lock and key by the librarian because it was the most in-demand book at that time. The waiting list was several coupon bonds long. But since I was the most "demanding" bookworm, I arranged to borrow it after the library closed at noon Saturday and return it on the first hour of the library service Monday morning (under strict pains of eternal damnation, hah!).

It was a very fascinating read which kept me up all night until dawn of Sunday. (Keep reading, no story or plot spoilers ahead!) The book must have impressed me so much that to this day I still remember having read it. It was not literature (I don't remember it being in the required reading list in any of my English lit classes), but it was written a la Sidney Sheldon's novels (you know, the ones that keep you turning pages because you want to know what happens next). It was probably the first chicklit book published in the Philippines (even before books like it was called chicklit).

And so while reading the first two chapters of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind about a boy's search for other books by an author, I suddenly recalled Libertine's Destiny and bolted out of bed, booted my laptop, googled it and now I'm here writing this blogpost.

And just like The Shadow of Wind's boy, Daniel Sempere, I am now hunting down information about Libertine's Destiny.

The Google search results turned up inquiries about where to buy copies of it, a blog named after it, and finally gave me information from this site (obviously) a library catalogue entry in a university in Cavite.

TITLE: Libertine's Destiny / P. Anciers.
AUTHOR: Anciers, P.
PUBLISHED: Manila : Zenith Books, 1967
DESCRIPTION: vi, 450 p. ; 23 cm.
NOTES: Originally serialized by the Weekly Women's Magazine
SUBJECT: Serialized fiction.
SUBJECT: Women in literature.
SUBJECT: Philippine fiction (English).

Further Google searches on P. Anciers and Zenith Books (Manila) turned up nada.

No entries on Amazon.com or any other book sellers online! No wikipedia bio-entry on P. Anciers!

Is this the dead end of my search for what seemed to me is a book which first caught the interest of readers when it was serialized in Weekly Women's Magazine, and later when published, gained a cult following among readers (mostly young women when they first read it, I guess) up to today?

Abangan . . .

69 comments:

ianclarito said...

just remembered about this book as well.

if i can get any info on this, will let you know too.

-ian

Anonymous said...

I read about Libertine's Destiny by P. Anciers. In fact, we had one but it was stolen. If anybody has a copy, can I reprint it and I will pay.

Thanks,
thelmampates@yahoo.com

ianclarito said...

was able to secure a copy!

i'm mailing you guys the details

Anonymous said...

ianclarito: How did you manage to secure a copy? This book is my mom's all-time favorite book and we've been searching far and wide! Any idea where I can get one?

If you could help us out, that would be SO MUCH appreciated! Thanks!

Gilbert Yap Tan said...

Hi Otis,

Please my later blogpost for more information: http://knowread-knowrite.blogspot.com/2008/06/libertines-destiny-ii.html

max11072 said...

I have a copy of the book,it is old but still in good condition. Email me if you want a copy and I'll see what I can do.

Unknown said...

oh my god! has anybody have a copy of the libertines book? can anyone spare a copy and i will just pay.
i have mine before and i let somebody borrowed it and it was never returned back to me...
plssss..
my email is ging236@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

oh my god! mine was not returned anymore and i would like to have a copy of it if anyone of you guys have it... i will just pay you.
my email is ging236@hotmail.com or ging236@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of this book.
It is my aunt's.
It's hard bound.

ThelmaPates said...

Hello,

Just testing if I can get in...

Lou said...

Hi,

I am interested to a xerox copy of this novel. Please let me know how much? Email me at newtomj@hotmail.com

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Libertine's Destiny by P Anciers is my Favorite book! i kept mine which i got from my uncle and my sister and i put it in a safety box. Its a must read.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I've been looking for this book in like ..forever! Can somebody please make a xerox copy of it and i'll pay. Please email me at anyadit@aim.com. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

i have read this book for like 3-4 times when i was in my college years..my mom borrowed it from her friend.For me it´s my ultimate book and the most unique story i´ve ever read..been searching it for years too but to no avail.

Anonymous said...

i've been searching for a copy of this book for 15 years. been to many branches of BookSale but my searches always turns up negative. i had a copy once (during my college days) but somebody borrowed it for good.

i hope somebody can help me secure a copy. i would be forever grateful.

tess said...

anyone who has a copy of Libertine's Destiny please e-mail me in my google account. i've been searching for a copy for 15 years. please end my search and i will be forever grateful...

mamita babaylan said...

omg i couldn't believe my eyes when i read your blog! and the numerous comments from the others.

i read it in high school. yeah, it wasn't required literature reading but my friends and i passed it around so many times that many other classmates got "infected" by the libertine's destiny fever that year. and until now, 3 of those friends and i reminisce about it and wonder if it's available -online, in used books stores, anywhere.

if you could get some info where i could buy a copy, please let me know too. i'd be eternally grateful!

mamita babaylan said...

omg i couldn't believe my eyes when i read your blog! and the numerous comments from the others.

i read it in high school. yeah, it wasn't required literature reading but my friends and i passed it around so many times that many other classmates got "infected" by the libertine's destiny fever that year. and until now, 3 of those friends and i reminisce about it and wonder if it's available -online, in used books stores, anywhere.

if you could get some info where i could buy a copy, please let me know too. i'd be eternally grateful!

mamita babaylan said...

i read this book in high school, like gazillion times,with some friends. you're right, it wasn't literature reading but it got to us somehow and it's stuck. until now it's part of our high school reminiscences.

if you could get any info on where this book is available, please let me know. i'd be eternally grateful!

Anonymous said...

I fell in love with the story the first time I read it. Which was like ages ago. Glad my godmother forced me into reading it. she's also a great fan of libertine's destiny and even had it photocopied and compiled. now it's tucked away somewhere but it is without a doubt one of the most interesting stories i have read. in fact i am currently searching for a copy of this lit in the net unfortunately, i haven't gotten any yet. will keep searching...

Milora said...

OMG! When my cousin gave me the book to read, I just tossed it at the side because the cover was ugly but because I was bored I just decided to open the first page saying to myself if this turned out not interesting which usually first page is, I'll just returned it back. That first page was the first of what I call the most delicious book I have ever read...been looking for a hard copy ever since because ours was also passed on and never recovered. I thought me n my few friends who were able to read it were the only people who fell in-love with the book especially after along fruitless years of search for it, not until I found this blog. If anyone could help me find a copy of this book I would greatly appreciate it and would be eternally grateful.

Pls.email me at f1orca@yahoo.com

Thanks...

Ja said...

Hi! Please help me get a copy of this book! Willing to pay, just please message me at mhmfranca (at) gmail. thank you!

Anonymous said...

how can I purchase a copy of Libertines destiny? lost my copy 10 years ago. ps email me @ drhoneymae@yahoo.com.thank you.

Anonymous said...

I read this book 19 yrs ago when I was 11. It was my mother's book and when she saw me reading it I thought she was going to tell me I was too young to read it, but instead she encouraged me to read it because it was a great book. I'm 30 now and it's the one book that I keep thinking about. I googled it a few years ago and nothing came up. I thought maybe I had the title wrong. And yes I also read it in the Philippines where I grew up and now it's long gone. If anyone knows where I can get a copy, kindly send me an e-mail at fma.jch@gmail.com. Thanks.

Unknown said...

Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get a copy of the book? email me please if you know how, kimkimmiekim@gmail.com. thanks!

Anonymous said...

ebook for Libertine's Destiny, anyone???

Anonymous said...

Can't get enough of this book - Lbertine's Destiny. It's my all time favorite. Ebook for this, anyone??? PLEASE!!!

tacardons said...

I'm wondering if any of those who were interested to have a copy of this book was able to secure one from Ian and Max. I also want a copy, and I'm willing to pay. It will be a gift for my daughter. Please e-mail me at tacardons@yahoo.ca

Unknown said...

I borrowed this book from the library as per recommendation of an uncle 40 years ago. I found a copy of Libertine's Destiny 30 years ago in a small book store somewhere in Intramuros but somebody borrowed it and never returned it to me. I would love to get a copy and will pay for the cost. My email address is diche77@gmail.com. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Out of the blue we entered your blog after searching for Libertine's Destiny on the Net.
We have been looking for ages to find this book and my Mom has been raving about the book, the story since I was little when she read it as a serie on the Philippine Women's Magazine during the 60's. Please, is there someone who could lead us to a copy or buy the book? Please. Please. We would be so happy and thankful for your kindness. My email: abainza@hotmail.com

Enzo the Man said...

WE were in A SEARCH FOR THIS BOOK AS WELL!
By God's Grace or Coincedence we were lead to this Blog just like ALL the others before us..

I am a 23 years old young man and my aunt is also in search for this BOOK for SO LONG as I could REMEMBER! Even before I was born.. She used to tell this story to me as "Bedtime Story" and I grew HEARING this Story and now Im done with my studies and she still KEPT searching for this book..even in Manila in the 80's she already started her QUEST just like this Story..

She read this while she was 20 I guess in the Same WOMEN's Magazine..

She is 64 Years old now.. She was searching for this for MOST of her LIFE. In fact one of my cousin was NAMED "LIBERTINE" and she was 40 something now and also had a LIFE of her own and created her DESTINY..

But Oh boy! I cant breath after reading your blog and the Comments attached to it. NOW I realized how MANY People so longed to HAVE this book.. and VALUABLE to some people this is...

Ive never read or seen the Book but I did try to search for it 3 yrs ago While I was a student in a University here in Mindanao. I never had the chance to see the BOOK because that time it was borrowed but I saw it in the CARD Catalogue and the Librarian confirmed it's existence..

But I already forgot that. I had a life of my own too... Please add me in facebook and I hope you AVID fans of this GREAT novel, meet up at least in facebook..
Please add me in Facebook: grks_07@yahoo.com

There should be a proper VENUE for you FANS of this great NOVEL.

Anonymous said...

read libertine's destiny when i was still in college - centuries ago . . and i have been looking for a copy eversince . . where can i get a copy? please email me at maricor.7518842@gmail.com

maria luisa dreyfus perez said...

my mom had one, i had it book bound but my son lent it to someone. up to this day, i had been searching for a copy. even if i had read it for several times, the desire to reread it again and again does not stop,please if someone can find me a copy... i am going to pay...email me@ deirdre_96@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of this book LIBERTINE'S DESTINY... After reading this blog, I just wish that I can reprint this book and mail it to you guys...but unfortunately, due to copyright, I don't want to be sued by the author and the printing company. HOWEVER, I can ask my lawyer of what's the best thing to do and the possibility to reprint this book and circulate this book in the bookstores... I'll keep you posted!

Anonymous said...

hi!i want to get a copy of this book for a long time now.if anybody out there has a copy please e-mail me. im willing to pay the cost to have a copy of this book.

my e-mail
juvysodpir@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

i have a copy of libertine's destiny

Justine said...

Hi my auntie is looking for the book but I can't find it anywhere. Is there any chance that I can get a copy from any of the above that has it? Thank you

email: elainejuz@yahoo.com

Daphne Tipton said...

I have the book, its very old, the pages had turned sepia color. My Mom and I read it like 20 times, my daughter loved it too. Now she's keeping the book in Manila, I live abroad and I wish I could have a copy too. If I be able to make copies of that book, I will make lots of money. But I don't know how to do it.

mamita babaylan said...

for Daphne Tipton -
you can have your daughter photocopy that book and have it bound. and you can sell it to us,hopefully, not so exorbitantly priced :)

you can also have it scanned and saved in pdf form and sell it too. although that will be cheaper than the hard copy then.

please update us when you've made a decision!

thank you!!!

Anonymous said...

Hello! I've been trying to get a copy of Libertine's Destiny too. I was so enamored of this book and lent it to my husband's cousin but that was the last I saw it. Is is possible to have another copy of it? Please help. Thanks and God Bless
Tentay L. Lukban - Labo, Cams. Norte tllukban101@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hi. After reading all the comments, I wasn't really sure if anybody has a copy and is willing to provide us a copy. Please email me at diazallt@yahoo.com. I hope whoever has a copy will be generous enough to take the time to photocopy it. Looking forward to hearing for you.

I read it ages ago and would like to let my daughter read it.

Anonymous said...

I have been for this book for ages. I have read the book 25 years ago and I wants my children to read it also...

Anonymous said...

Hi...i would love a copy of this book as well... after so many years of looking for it... to those who have kindly share with us the beauty of one of the best stories published in the phils. thanks thanks... lash21_98@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

i read this book when i was in high school. it was referred by one of my cousins. i had to borrow the only copy our school library has. unfortunately, i wasn't able to finish it because it was damaged by a typhoon.
until now, i still wonder what happened to libertine. if anyone can also provide me a copy, i will be able to "move on and get over it".
i love the libertine's destiny. it's one of my most unforgettable books ever.

Anonymous said...

I would also love to have a copy of Libertine's Destiny. I'll be very grateful if you can update me thru my e- mail abingmelisa@ymail.com

Thank you and God bless.

Riz said...

Hi! I really need a copy of this. Could someone help me? Thank you so much.
rizrizelle@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of this book :)
It really is a MUST READ novel.

Anonymous said...

ill be emailing those who have emails on this comment list... :)

Anonymous said...

i have a copy of this book which I found after 5 years of searching.

Anonymous said...

i'm done reading LD just recently. it was from this blog that my obsession to obtain a copy had pushed me to jump start my search. it was a blessing that some kind-hearted, LD-motivated individual answered my call, and as a return for the kindness i would also like to share this blessing. email me in citizenjuandelacruz-LD@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

for daphne tipton: hi, i've been looking for the novel libertine's destiny for ages and couldn't get a copy of it. if you can spare me a copy of it i am willing to pay for a fair price. Just send me an email on this add ; capanangc@yahoo.com
thanks.

Cee said...

Can anyone spare me a copy for my mom? Please! juliannevictoria@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Can anyone GI me a copy too, my mom has been looking for it for a while now. Thanks!!
jiggylito16@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Can anyone also give me a copy for my mom?

rommel said...

i have an officemate that asked me to try to get a copy for her. can you email me details at rumzster@gmail.com if you have a copy? thanks much!

Anonymous said...

I love this book. Read it while I was still in high school. My mom had the book. Someone borrowed it and it never came back to us. I would appreciate it very much if somebody could let me know how to get hold of a copy of it, please email me: gaiashuckz@yahoo.com

Many thanks.

-Aries

Unknown said...

please email me a copy of the book...
please please please. we have been
looking for a copy of this book and
i wanted to surprize my sister with a copy of it. please give me a soft copy!!

thank you very much and i will look forward for your email.
:) God bless!!

-Joyce

joycetorres323@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

please email me a copy of this book.
my email address is: aeiueldignadice@gmail.com

i wanted to print this out for my sister. I am willing to pay.

thanks in advance!
God bless!

KALOY&LARA said...

May I have a copy? How much? Pls email to drLara.aleta@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of this book and infact I am re-reading it now. I am from Cebu if you are from here I may arrange a copy for you.

Anonymous said...

born Jan. 21, 1966

Copied/Pasted here Renz the Man's comment because I could relate in his story. I was named LIBERTINE too by my sister who is a little bit older than Renz' aunt.Sissy was an avid reader of said novel published in Women's Magazine in the year i was born. When I was a child, people who hears my name would always say "Oh Libertine's Destiny!" i was too proud everytime but then one day, somebody asked me if i am aware of the meaning of libertine? ... since then i was not happy and am not proud of it to this day. maybe not until i read this novel will i know how to react the next time i am asked with same question.

hope to find a copy for me to justify my name and why i was named as such. . . there must be something behind it.there must be a reason why Renz' cousin and I bear this mysterious/beautiful (?) name. :)

Renz the Man said...

I am a 23 years old young man and my aunt is also in search for this BOOK for SO LONG as I could REMEMBER! Even before I was born.. She used to tell this story to me as "Bedtime Story" and I grew HEARING this Story and now Im done with my studies and she still KEPT searching for this book..even in Manila in the 80's she already started her QUEST just like this Story..

She read this while she was 20 I guess in the Same WOMEN's Magazine..

She is 64 Years old now.. She was searching for this for MOST of her LIFE. In fact one of my cousin was NAMED "LIBERTINE" and she was 40 something now and also had a LIFE of her own and created her DESTINY..

kym712 said...

can I have a copy of this book? my email add kathz712@yahoo.com

kym712 said...

Can I have a copy of this book? my email add kathz712@yahoo.com

Tonet said...


I've been looking for a copy of Libertine's Destiny. I want to read it again. If anyone of you has a copy, pls email me at margel314@yahoo.com. Thanks!


#Tonet

Anonymous said...

how can i get a copy? sher7818@gmail.com ... thanks

Anonymous said...

Plz can anyone re print libertine destiny ive been that novel for decade now....heres my email kiwanishernandes@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I am dying to have a copy of this book too... i really need to have this... please if anyone has a copy of it email me at nhel1016@yahoo.com
thanks!

Unknown said...

Hi. Greetings to everyone. I was just wondering if someone can give me a copy of this novel? Even soft copy will do. My Grand Mother keeps on looking for this book for a very long time. I'm hoping that someone would be kind enough to give me a copy of this book for my granny. Thank you so much. Here's my email jinkiijoana@gmail.com.

Anonymous said...

I also am searching for a copy of this book. My email is lindafillmore9@gmail.com. I will pay areas able price for a copy.