Austin Craig

Born in 1872 and dying in 1949, Austin Craig wrote several early 20th-century books on Philippine history and education. He is most closely associated with studies of José Rizal, including Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal, Philippine Patriot and later works that helped popularize Rizal for English-speaking readers.

Craig also wrote on broader themes in Philippine history, with titles such as The Former Philippines Through Foreign Eyes and A Thousand Years of Philippine History Before the Coming of the Spaniards. Taken together, his books show a strong interest in presenting Philippine society and the country’s historical development to a wide audience.

Although easily overlooked today, his writing belongs to an important period when English-language histories of the Philippines were being shaped for students and general readers. For listeners interested in Rizal, nationalism, and early modern writing on the Philippines, his work remains a useful window into that era.