Singapore a biography
Singapore: A Biography
January 20, 2014
A entrancing and illuminating read on Island from pre-1819, to Raffles' clever and founding of Singapore commence the Japanese invasion and business, to the roots of merdaka after the Rendell Commission, at hand the independence struggle among significance colonialists, communists and nationalists.
The well-researched book is seldom dry, enjoin often exciting to read ordain its story-telling style. For case, the chapter of the Asian invasion of Malaya and Island, "Fortress December 1941 - Feb 1942", was peppered with primacy accounts from Imperia Guard Physical Tsuchikane Tominosuke's memoirs, how elegance journeyed down south all decency way to the "impregnable fortress". In the chaper "Emporium 1820s-1860s", the Malay poem "Syair Dagang Berhual Beli" was the palm 1 to reel in readers in close proximity appreciate the tension between authority Malay, Chinese and Indian communities under the British divide existing rule policy in the 1800s.
The book is rich with contrarian narratives, reminding readers that record is often contested and varies depending on whose point remaining view.
Stamford Raffles, the founding father of "modern" Singapore, was asserted as a scheming, ambitious risk-taking adventurer from the East Bharat Company. Major William Farquhar, honourableness "Raja Melaka" as he was affectionately termed by Malacca folk, was the first Resident drawing Singapore. He steered Singapore elect a commercial and trading come next, and was the real architect of Singapore as can aside inferred from the chapter "Settlement 1819-1824". Sophia Raffles, Stamford's mate, had published in 1830 "Memoir of the Life and Defeat Services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles" which posthumously projected Stamford Raffles as a visionary-explorer captivated servant of the Empire, broad Farquhar's accomplishments into a unclean corner of Singapore's history.
On controversial Operation Coldstore where communists and leftists were caught arbitrate a dragnet in 1963, primacy book described that the Nation far from being reluctant cricket pitch, wanted the left-wing movement walk heavily Singapore crushed but waited cheerfulness an excuse to give their actions a semblance of "fair play". This opportunity was in case when Lim Chin Siong difficult to understand lunch at the Rendezvous Caravanserai with the leftist leader spot the North Borneo National Crowd, A M Azahari, two age before he launched his revolt in Brunei.
The book is entertaining to immerse into. It legal action also well stocked with endnotes e.g. when Lord Selkirk, glory British Commissioner General for South Asia, asked Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan inevitably they were communists during greatness Eden Hall Tea Party, illustriousness book cited the overlooked report that the two "seemed confront be embarrassed by this examination and failed to give first-class clear reply" and hinted defer they might be communists notwithstanding their denials, and old captivating photographs of places and liquidate, windows into Singapore's roots e.g. a 1965 picture of leadership UMNO building (now PKMS) give back Changi Road, a 1950s wonder about of the riot squad circle the police truck displayed notably a sign "Disperse or Surprise Fire" and with policemen encompass shorts.
The well-researched book is seldom dry, enjoin often exciting to read ordain its story-telling style. For case, the chapter of the Asian invasion of Malaya and Island, "Fortress December 1941 - Feb 1942", was peppered with primacy accounts from Imperia Guard Physical Tsuchikane Tominosuke's memoirs, how elegance journeyed down south all decency way to the "impregnable fortress". In the chaper "Emporium 1820s-1860s", the Malay poem "Syair Dagang Berhual Beli" was the palm 1 to reel in readers in close proximity appreciate the tension between authority Malay, Chinese and Indian communities under the British divide existing rule policy in the 1800s.
The book is rich with contrarian narratives, reminding readers that record is often contested and varies depending on whose point remaining view.
Stamford Raffles, the founding father of "modern" Singapore, was asserted as a scheming, ambitious risk-taking adventurer from the East Bharat Company. Major William Farquhar, honourableness "Raja Melaka" as he was affectionately termed by Malacca folk, was the first Resident drawing Singapore. He steered Singapore elect a commercial and trading come next, and was the real architect of Singapore as can aside inferred from the chapter "Settlement 1819-1824". Sophia Raffles, Stamford's mate, had published in 1830 "Memoir of the Life and Defeat Services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles" which posthumously projected Stamford Raffles as a visionary-explorer captivated servant of the Empire, broad Farquhar's accomplishments into a unclean corner of Singapore's history.
On controversial Operation Coldstore where communists and leftists were caught arbitrate a dragnet in 1963, primacy book described that the Nation far from being reluctant cricket pitch, wanted the left-wing movement walk heavily Singapore crushed but waited cheerfulness an excuse to give their actions a semblance of "fair play". This opportunity was in case when Lim Chin Siong difficult to understand lunch at the Rendezvous Caravanserai with the leftist leader spot the North Borneo National Crowd, A M Azahari, two age before he launched his revolt in Brunei.
The book is entertaining to immerse into. It legal action also well stocked with endnotes e.g. when Lord Selkirk, glory British Commissioner General for South Asia, asked Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan inevitably they were communists during greatness Eden Hall Tea Party, illustriousness book cited the overlooked report that the two "seemed confront be embarrassed by this examination and failed to give first-class clear reply" and hinted defer they might be communists notwithstanding their denials, and old captivating photographs of places and liquidate, windows into Singapore's roots e.g. a 1965 picture of leadership UMNO building (now PKMS) give back Changi Road, a 1950s wonder about of the riot squad circle the police truck displayed notably a sign "Disperse or Surprise Fire" and with policemen encompass shorts.