New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf
in
July 2021
(Last Updated 31-7-21)
Purcal carried out his work for this study in the paddy producing areas of Province Wellesley, part of Penang state, in 1962. He covers both single and double cropping areas, labour utilisation, income and expenditure of the farmers and marketing practices at a time of rapid change in the rice cultivation scene in Malaysia. Fine Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket First Edition. 248 pages with appendices, a bibliography and an index.
This is a general introduction to the opportunities for anthropological research in both Indonesia and Malaysia with suggestions for research. By way of preparation, the author introduces the reader to the physical environment, history and cultural diversity of the peoples of the archipelago. Good Hardback. First Edition. 193 pages with notes, references and an index.
The author, an established architect, takes nine iconic buildings from Malaysia's colonial era and provides and architectural analysis. The description of each building is accompanied by colour photographs and elevation and floor plans. 80 pages with an index.
In this interesting book two architects take a look at the role that ornamentation has played in the design of buildings in Malaysia in the past, how this was swept aside during a period of early modernism and how now architects are trying to develop a 'national architecture identity' that better reflects the multicultural identity of the country. In this book they hope to revive an interest in ornamentation befitting current times. Hardback. First Edition. 129 pages with a bibliography and an index.
This book serves as a useful introduction to domestic architecture in Southeast Asia, focusing, as one would expect, on how wood has been and is used as a building material. The author, a noted French architect, traces different building styles through history and includes external influences from China, Europe and India. Very Good Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 1987. 74 pages with maps illustrations and a bibliography.
A brief guide to the state of mainly woven crafts in what is now the Malaysian state of Sabah. The book was prepared at a time when craft production for tourists was not prevalent, with the artifacts being mainly for home use. However the authors foresee that such items may generate tourist income in the future. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 130 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Although this work is amply illustrated with colour and black and white photographs it is far from being a coffee table book. Looking at a wide range of different crafts such as metalwork, beadwork, embroidery, ornamented textiles, woodcarving, bamboo products and pottery, the author examines to what extent, if at all, crafts have altered as a result of technological progress and increased tourism. Near Fine Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket. First Edition. This book has 124 pages with a glossary, bibliography and index.
A comprehensive review of Malaysian craft work from the past to the present. The authors of each section of the book, who are recognised authorities in their specialised area of crafts, have chosen both items from various museums in Malaysia, but also pieces that are being produced in workshops in various parts of the country today. Near Fine Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket First Edition. 240 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
An introduction to the wide variety of textiles that have been and still are produced by weavers in the Malay community. Paperback. First Edition. 108 pages with many colour illustrations For further details please see the scanned contents page.
This book describes the ancient craft of creating a form of tie-dye weft yarns, known as ikat. Although the craft has died out in peninsular Malaysia, patterns and motifs that were common in ikat textiles still influence other textiles woven in Malaysia today. The final part of the book describes an attempt to revive the craft in Pahang based on current ikat practices in India, Indonesia and Thailand. New Hardback. First Edition. 188 pages with many illustrations of ikat products For further details please see the scanned contents page.
The kendi, one of Southeast Asian most interesting vessels, is a pot with two openings but no handle. The kendi's intertwining with the history of Southeast Asia is explored. The author explains the development of it in the ceramics trade, the kendi's various uses, the collection and how the kendi is made . Very Good Hardback. First Edition 151 pages with a glossary, bibliography and index.
The memoirs of the Singapore Straits Times Malaysia correspondent. He covers the period from the Second World War to the beginning of the the 21st century with many reminiscences of encounters of well know political names in Malaysia and Singapore and trenchant observations on the future of Malaysia. New Paperback. Reprint. 300 pages with an index.
Unlike most hunters in the Malayan jungle in the early 20th century, Mayer, a German American, did not chiefly hunt to kill, but to trap wild animals for sale to circuses and zoos. This is his exciting account of his adventures. Good Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 1922. 223 pages with one colour plate and four other line drawings.
The memoirs of an Australian doctor from his arrival in North Borneo, present day Sabah in 1938 until his release from internment by the Japanese in 1945. Much of his work was bringing Western medicine to remote areas and trying to adapt his practice. Even while imprisoned he managed to persuade his Japanese captors to allow him to continue his medical practice among his fellow inmates as best he could with limited resources. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 166 pages with several black and white plates.
Bird was anything but a casual visitor when she reached Malaya in 1879. She was a tough and experienced traveller in many parts of the world. She therefore had enough of a keen eye for the Malayans, their colonial masters and the environment to produce one of the more evocative accounts of the country in the late 19th century. Good Hardback First Edition. 384 pages with 16 illustrations an index, a fold out coloured map of Perak and the peninsula and appendices of letters written by by Hugh Low and Frank Swettenham.
The author bases the book on her experiences of growing up in one of Singapore's red light districts where her mother ran a brothel. However the book also reflects the unknown lives of women who, like her mother, were sold into prostitution and how their lives and surroundings changed between the author's childhood and now. New Paperback 270 pages.
An unusual account of the author's experiences as a schizophrenic. Lishan Chan also delves into a philosophical examination of mental illness attempting to examine the extent to which mental illness is a disease or a culturally determined label. The book also contains examples of the author's schizophrenic ramblings. New Paperback. First Edition. 110 pages.
Although Singapore's architecture is now almost uniformly structures of concrete and glass, it was not always so. In this book the author remembers the transformation of the area where she grew up in a Peranakan/Straits Chinese family. She evokes the community spirit, thatched houses and poverty that were eventually erased for a new Singapore 214 pages.
This is the first authoritative examination of the interaction between the Brooke Rajahs, particularly James and Charles, and the Anglican mission in the territory. The author's research threw up much new information about Brooke rule, particularly the Church's influence on Government policy and in the succession to James Brooke. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 290 pages.Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
This classic account of the writer's visit to Borneo just around the time of independence includes history, ethnography and anecdote all written in an entertaining style. The book includes 44 black and white illustrations of the country and the people whom the author met. The 376 pages are divided into six parts, i.e. 1 - The Country, 2 - The Land Dayaks, 3 - The Ibans, 4 - The Kayans and Kenyahs, 5 - The Melanaus, Malays and Chinese and 6 - Envoi. Very Good Hardback Third Impression. Originally published in 1956.
This is the first comprehensive economic history of Sarawak under Brooke rule. The author examines why the economy did not fare as well as other neighbouring colonial territories, a situation that persists today when comparing the state to many other states in peninsular Malaysia. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket First Edition 414 pages with appendices, a bibliography and an index.
The author was Engineer of the British North Borneo State Railways in the mid 1920s for about a year when his tour of duty was cut short by a bout of dysentery when he returned to England. This is an account of his experiences. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 186 pages.
Ho Ah Chon specialised in recording the 20th century history of Sarawak by republishing local newspaper reports of the time. Here he presents extracts from Sarawak by the Week for the year 1964. There was plenty going on as it was the year in which the territory completed its first year as part of Malaysia. The text is accompanied by numerous black and white photographs. Very Good Paperback First Edition. 140 pages.
The author, whose writings on Iban culture have been published widely, here turns to the community's traditional practices from cradle to grave. The book does not touch on regular activities like fishing or weaving, but rather on activities that mark life and seasonal events. Very Good Hardback. First English Language Edition. 64 pages with some black and white plates.
The formation of Malaysia in 1963 did not come without objections from its neighbours, Indonesia and the Philippines, each of which promoted territorial claims on Sabah, formerly North Borneo. The main purpose of this book is not to dig up historical evidence to support or rebut the Philippine claim, although it is refereed to, but rather to trace the often murky interactions between the European intruders, particularly the British, and the various sultanates in the area from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 385 pages with two maps and 6 black and white plates. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
The author, who together with her husband, had had previous experience of providing technical assistance in Africa paid a visit to Sarawak in the 1950s. The first part of this book is an account of their stay and their discovery that rural youth lacked educational and technical support. The remainder of the book describes a scheme to send young volunteers from the UK in an attempt to provide that support. From this experience, they both established the world wide British volunteer body Voluntary Service Overseas, which, in turn, prompted President Kennedy to establish the US Peace Corps. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. 216 pages with several line drawings by the author.
This is principally a photographic record of the Iban of Sarawak, the most numerous and powerful tribe in Sarawak at the time of Brooke rule. As with many similar tribal societies, their way of life is now under threat. So with a hundred full page photographs, 25 of which are in colour, and accompanying text, the authors attempt to capture the main features of Iban life before it disappears. Wright was an academic with ten years' research experience in Borneo, Morrison, was a photographer and writer who had lived in Sarawak for 20 years and Wong, a Sarawakian who, at the time, was the only photographer to have made such an extensive survey of tribal life. Very Good Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1972 152 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
As the author states in his preface "the basic function of imperial rule...was to establish and maintain conditions under which...capitalism could flourish." So he procedes to examine the relationship between government officers and business in an industry which was crucial to the shaping of Malaya by the time she reached independence. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. The 294 pages include a bibliography, two maps and 9 appendices. The Contents include 1 - Background, 2 - Formation of the Estate Labor Force: The Indians, 3 - Formation of the Estate Labor Force: The Chinese and the Javanese, 4 - Labor Legislation and Administration, 5 - Wage Policy, 6 - Unemployment Policy and 7- Conclusion.
A collection of essays by one of the principal architects of Singapore's economic success. As both a trained economist and Minister of Finance in Lee Kuan Yew's first government, he highlights the aspects of economic theory that he believes helped Singapore's growth as well as those theories that he cast aside in favour of home grown pragmatism. Near Fine Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1997. 282 pages with an index.
A fascinating study of an almost forgotten calling, the amahs who were the mainstay of many expatriate and well to do families in the British colonial territories of Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore. They were often the main servant of the household, juggling a variety of roles as nanny, cook and maid, working long days for little pay or holidays. In this book, Gaw, who himself was brought up by an amah, through interviews with several amahs, discovers their origins, work experience and motivation. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 177 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
Blythe, Secretary for Chinese Affairs in Malaya in the immediate post war period, produces one of the most comprehensive accounts of secret societies that were an integral part of Chinese society both on the mainland and amongst Chinese overseas. The book looks at both the attempts of the Ching Dynasty and British colonial authorities to suppress these groups as well as the role played they played in the Malayan 'Emergency'. With a foreword by Malcolm MacDonald 570 pages with about 20 black and white plates, a bibliography, general index and an index of Societies and Organizations. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition
The joint author of one of the standard works on the Malaysian constitution looks at the constitution's history from the formation of the Federation of Malaya onwards. He lays particular emphasis on the constitutional crisis of 1983, threats to the judiciary and the battle over royal immunity. Very Good Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket Hardback. First Edition 155 pages.
Malaysia's rich tropical climate is home to more than 2,000 herbs and medicinal plants. This lavishly produced book concentrates on ulam, i.e. edible herbs and their uses. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 254 pages
A guide to different types of street food that can be found in Malaysia and Singapore with recipes for 12 main meals, 8 desserts and 4 drinks. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 53 pages with colour photographs illustrating each recipe.
Although 'Onaka' is the Japanese word for 'stomach', this is not a Japanese cookbook, although Japanese recipes are included. Instead the book is intended to broadcast the wide range of nutritional and wholesome food that used to be served at the Onaka Restaurant in Singapore. The selection of recipes caters for all tastes from the carnivore to the vegan. New Paperback. 239 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
This study demonstrates what happens when a government decides to take over a popular adaptive and developing art form and ossify it so as to fit in with the government's message. Tan, one of Malaysia's leading musicologists, describes the evolution of bangsawan, the most popular form of multi ethnic entertainment in Malaya before the arrival of cinema, and how it was, from the 1970s onwards, transformed into a 'traditional' Malay theatre. 261 pages with a bibliography, index, some black and white plates and musical scores. New Paperback. Reprint. First published in 1993.
A collection of five simple dramatic sketches designed to educate adults and children in the building of relationships with others and the environment around them. New Paperback. First edition 136 pages with some line drawings.
This book is written based on the author's personal experience of twelve years of the 'Emergency' in Malaya and three years as Head of the British Advisory Mission in South Vietnam. Thompson looks at the theories of insurgency and counterinsurgency gleaned from these experiences. He is concerned more with the administrative necessities of running a counterinsurgency campaign rather than battle operational details. 171 pages with maps.
A grim, but interesting guide to forces under British command in the Malayan 'Emergency' as to how 'to kill or capture Communist terrorists in Malaya.' as General Templer states in his foreword. The book marks a consolidation of British tactics and new drive by Templer who had been appointed the British High Commissioner to Malaya a few months before the first edition of this book was published. This edition was published when the insurgents had 'largely abandoned (their) aggressive attitude,' according to the preface to this edition. The twenty-one chapters contain much of what one might expect in such a manual from methods of patrolling to how do deal with air support and conduct ambushes. This manual was one of the first in counter insurgency and was also used by government forces elsewhere as is evidenced by the ownership Irish Defence Department stamp on this book Unpaginated, but probably about 250-300 pages.
The author was a lawyer, born in Singapore, who then was employed by the British to prosecute Japanese defendants at war crimes tribunals, but subsequently joined the Communist Party and was interned by the British. On his release in 1953 he went to England where he campaigned for Malayan independence. This pamphlet explains why. Good Paperback. 20 pages.
Having just got rid of one threat to their interests at the end of World War II, the West was a bit taken aback to be confronted with another one - guerrilla Communism. Soldiers fought it and academics puzzled over its significance. This book is the result of several months of interviews with ex-Communists, by the author, a US academic who try to find out what on earth made the Commies tick. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket First Edition 369 pages with an index.
This book was published roughly 50 years after the British and US armed services first started taking jungle warfare seriously. As a result it is a review of the history of this method of fighting particularly during World War II, The Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War together with recommendations for its future development. Cross was involved not only as a fighter but set up and ran at least one jungle warfare training school. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 222 pages which include a bibliography, an index and appendices on Immediate action drills, Japanese Training, Ambushes and Life on the Lines of Communication. The book is divided into four parts, namely - I - Setting the Scene, II - Conventional Warfare in Jungle Terrain, III - Unconventional Warfare in Jungle Terrain and IV - Jungle Craft and the Future
This book was originally published in 1885, some sixteen years after the publication of Wallace's The Malay Archipelago. Their interests in the natural history of Indonesia was similar, but he moved at a more leisurely pace than Wallace and ventured into many areas that Wallace missed. His lyrical writing still evokes his joy at what he found. Very Good Hardback Reprint. With an introduction by the 20th century naturalist, The Earl of Cranbrook, 536 pages with an index, several line drawings and five maps.
This work follows on from a major scientific expedition to Upper Baleh in 2015. As a result the Baleh National Park of about 65,000 hectares was gazetted two years later. This book highlights the park's rich biodiversity in the hope of attracting more naturalists and general tourists to the area. New Hardback. First Edition. 74 pages with an index and many colour photographs.
The first comprehensive survey of the flora of the Malay Peninsula, by Henry Ridley, was published in the 1920s. This is the first volume of an attempt to update that work, concentrating on the orchids of the peninsula. Holttum was Director of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, and later Professor of Botany at the University of Malaya. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 753 pages with a few colour plates, many line drawings and an index.
Originally published in 1953, this book was for many years the gardening bible for English readers in Malaya. Written by the former Director of the Botanic Gardens of Singapore and the most prolific author on Malayan botany in the first half of the 20th century, the book covers almost anything the Malayan gardener might want to know from flowering plants, trees and hedges to fruit, vegetables an diseases. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint. 323 pages with 18 black and white and 16 colour illustrations and an index.
Since the 1960s it has been realised that the indigenous Kelampayan Tree (Neolamarckia Cadamba) is a 'miracle tree' not only because of its fast growing nature, but also because of its many by-products. It is not only valuable to the timber trade, but also has many medicinal uses. In this book, the authors, academic and professional foresters, examine in detail how the tree grows and reproduces itself and also reveal research in how to make the tree as productive as possible. New paperback. First Edition. 188 pages with many colour photographs, figures, tables and a list of references.
The first volume of the widely acclaimed Encyclopedia of Malaysia serves as an informed introduction to Malaysia's resource rich environment. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 144 pages with many colour illustrations.
Stewart Wavell's explorations take us deep into Malayan forests which still cover most of the country . His macho adventures are vividly pictured in a multitude of dangerous situations often by himself or with aboriginal forest dwellers in the midst of the Malayan 'Emergency'. 195 pages with 20 black and white photographs. Good Hardback. First Edition
A comprehensive photographic and botanical survey of the majority of ferns to be found in peninsular Malaysia with a few in Sabah and Sarawak. Of the 392 fern species and varieties recorded at the time of publication, approximately 80% of them are depicted in nearly 1,500 photographs. Scientific names, habitat and description are also given for each species mentioned. Photographs by CJ Piggott. This work is the result of 20 years' research in the country. Very Good Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. Second Printing. Originally published in 1988 458 pages with a glossary, bibliography and an index to scientific names.
A novel, translated from Malay, about the tensions between the Muslims and British at the time of the founding of Singapore. Kamari, who has published several Malay novels, has also won several awards in Singapore and Southeast Asia. New paperback. First English Language Edition 243 pages including a list of historical characters in the book
A well reviewed debut novel, since made into a successful film, by a Singaporean author lampooning the life of the wealthy Chinese diaspora in the Far East. Near Fine Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket. 403 pages
In this universally well-reviewed book Gomez wittily and insightfully sets his pacey plot in the Malaysia that's not quite the "Malaysia Truly Asia" of the tourism ads. According to the cover blurb the novel involves "terrorism, prostitution, politics and other kinds of funny stuff." One reviewer was obviously a bit goggle eyed on reading the book, writing "my version (of Malaysia) does not include a struggling musician having a Malay Muslim as a beer buddy and certainly does not include a Malay bouncer-cum-club-owner serving all types of alcohol." 347 pages.
This is a collection of eight morality tales depicting modern-day Malaysia. One of the story is about the mission by a civil servant protagonist after the May 13 riots. Fariza, his only child finds out the truth of who is the young man she meets and what is the relationship that binds him to her father. The author writes these stories with some sense of humour. New Paperback. Reprint. originally published in 1966. 131 pages.
The news about Muslims in the last few years has often been alarmingly negative. Due to the political developments in several parts of the Muslim world, many Muslims think they are seen as 'good moderates' or 'evil fundamentalists'. Through fictional short stories Dina Zaman seeks to demonstrate that there are many different shades and types of Malaysian Muslims. These stories demonstrate that Muslims, like anyone else, can be both likeable and repulsive. Near Fine Paperback 154 pages.
This novel illustrates the plight of Chinese women in the period between 1928 and 1959. It follows the life of Nonya a woman trapped by the prejudices which were not only threatened generally by increasing Westernisation and particularly by the upheavals of the War, the 'Emergency' and then independence. Good Reprint Paperback. First published in 1992 498 pages.
An English translation of the acclaimed French novel set in Malaya both before and after World War II. Boulle was a planter himself and used this experience and his incisiveness and humour to capture the English plantation set attempting to come to terms with change. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition. 321 pages
An anthology of new writing from Singapore. Ten short stories. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 157 pages.
Although the book was not received well in colonial circles at the time it was published, because of its perceived anti-British bias, the book remains one of the best known novels written about the Malayan 'Emergency.' The author was married to a British police officer at the time the book was written and the main British character in the book is portrayed as a kind man uncomfortable with his job of suppressing an uprising which Han Suyin portrayed in a sympathetic light. Good Hardback 319 pages.
An entertaining and thought provoking collection of thirteen short stories set in the world that many visitors to Singapore do not see, the soulless Government run tower blocks where most Singaporeans live. Chua's laconic style and impish inventiveness make human his characters' "droning sadness" as described in Gwee Li Sui's Foreword. Recommended. 207 pages.
In this collection, the award winning Singaporean poet and playwright turns his attention to the lives of ordinary city dwellers, struggling in a city fixated by money and success. Despite the characters' apparent exclusion from the lifestyles of their high flying compatriots, the stories offer hope and opportunities for change. 167 pages.
A collection of short stories by an award winning author, born in the United States, raised in the Philippines and now living in Singapore. As a result this collection of compact and evocative fiction is tinged with a variety of influences. New Paperback. First Edition. 240 pages.
A crime thriller, set in Singapore, that is not afraid to tackle the racial and social divides prevalent in the city state. As the inquiry into a the discovery of a gunshot victim, initially thought to be a participant in a game of Russian roulette gone wrong, develops, it meanders into the arcane depths of Singapore's bureaucracy. New Paperback. First Edition. 204 pages.
A retelling in Malay of folklore concerning Sengalang Burong, believed to be the Brahminy Kite, the ancestor of the Iban people of Sarawak. Illustrated by Husaini bin Sulaiman. Very Good Paperback. Revised Edition 164 pages.
In 1991 Professor Roland Werner together with the University of Malaya Press started their ambitious project to record practices of healing prevalent in Malaysia in the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous Cultures. This work on the role of Chinese martial arts in personal healing is the first of a planned eleven volumes for the Chinese section of the series. The exercises are explained by detailed written and graphic illustrations. The benefits of each exercise are also detailed. 336 pages. New Paperback First Edition
While most historical writing in English on Malay Sultans concentrates on their interactions with British colonialism, Gullick here takes a step backwards to look at how they functioned before the British reduced their role. He concentrates on the whole political organisation from village to state in Perak, Selangor and Negri Sembilan with some references to Kedah and Pahang. Originally published in 1958. Revised Good Hardback 151 pages. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters.
To mark the formation of the 'controversial' Malaysian federation in 1963, the noted Malaysian historian was appointed to edit a wide selection of articles on the state of the country at the time. 466 pages with a bibliography and index. For further details, please see the scanned contents page Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket
A readable account of the Malay peninsula's history from the earliest times until Malayan independence intended for primary school children. The book not only outlines the major events but includes anecdotes about some of the major characters. There are line drawings by Phyllis Mackenzie on almost every page. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 265 pages.
Written at a time when the clash between Communism and Asian Nationalism was at its height, McKie, an Australian journalist before before and after the Second World War, analyses the prospects for the newly formed Malaysia. His work is based on interviews with a wide range of politicians and Malaysian commentators. Good Hardback. First American Edition. 310 pages with an index.
This is a collection of speeches by the then Head of the Civil Service of Malaysia. One would guess that the reforms outlined were more aspirational than practical as, some thirty years later, Malaysia has one of the highest ratios of civil servants to the country's population. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 240 pages with an index.
A history of the period between the end of World War II and Malayan Independence. The book not only covers the Communist insurgency and how it was prosecuted and dealt with, but also the political manoeuvrings between the British and Malayan political parties as well as the jostling between the parties themselves. Good Paperback First Edition. 333 pages with a bibliography.
The author, an Australian married to a Singaporean, teaches etiquette and is a food writer. In this book she guides the reader through the intricacies of Indian etiquette. There are sections on the giving of gifts, festivals, meals and Indian etiquette generally. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 68 pages with an index.
A historical account of the development of the largest Indian community overseas, covering settlement under the indenture system and voluntary immigration, and economic progress and social change in the towns and on the plantations. 240 pages including bibliography and index. Very Good Paperback. Second Revised Edition
Sebagai satu daripada kumpulan utama dalam masyarakat di Malaysia, orang India mempunyai jaluran sejarah yang panjand dan cukup unik dalam konteks perkembangan negara ini. Walau bagaimanapun, sehingga kini tidak banyak kajian masyarakat yang terdiri daripada berbagai-bagai seperti masyarakat Tamil yang menjadi kelompok dominan dalam masyarakat India di Malaysia, mahupun kumpulan-kumpulan lain seperti Sikh, Ceti, Chettiar dan India Muslim. Buku ini memberikan perhatian bukan sahaka mengenai asal-usul kedatangan masyarakat India, namun lebih penting lagi berbagai-bagai rupa bentuk transformasi ekonomi, sosial dan politik yang berlaku kepada masyarakat ini sejak sekurang-kurangnya abad ke-19 hingga abad ke-20. Very Good Paperback First Edition. 276 pages.
When originally published in 1932 this was the first history of the state that had relied on sources both in English and Malay. In many ways it has stood the test of time although the work confines itself mainly to the activities of the sultans, their supporters and opponents without spending too much time on the lot of the sultans' subjects. Very Good Hardback. 240 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
This well known Singaporean writer spent a year and a half studying in and travelling through the United States. While there he wrote a weekly column, 'Fax from America', recording his impressions for a Singaporean newspaper. This book is based on those writings, but rewritten with the benefit of hindsight on his return to Singapore. New Paperback. Reprint. First Published in 1996. 287 pages.
A collection of newspaper articles, previously published between 2003 and 2015, by one of Malaysia's best known activists and political commentators. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 2015. 272 pages.
The author carried out field work in Jelawat, Kelantan, between 1967 and 1969 in an attempt to get an anthropological grip on the community and to study its history. The area was undergoing some upheaval at the time because the Pan- Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP) had wrested power from more traditional parties supported by the state's nobility. One of the key themes of the book is the 20th century transformation of the relationship between former rulers and the peasantry. 311 pages. The contents include chapters on - Malaysia, Kelantan and the Islamic Party, Kelantan before 1886, The Years of Foreign Intervention, Jelawat under Colonial Rule, Agriculture and Class in Jelawat, The Origins of Party Politics in Town and Country, The Impact of Party Politics in the Countryside, Land, Peasants and Parties, Party Politics and the Administration of Islam, Religious Ideas and Social Reality. There are also three appendices, a glossary, bibliography and index as well as 4 maps, 15 black and white illustrations, diagrams and tables. Near Fine Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition
The author examines the effects of independence on running of the civil service in Kelantan and the particular issues raised by the state being governed by a party in opposition to the ruling party of the federal government. He also looks at the effect of the decision to abolish elected local government and provides a framework to compare Kelantan's experience with other post-colonial societies. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 122 pages with a bibliography, index and a map.
One of the great joys of spoken language is the clues the language gives to the speakers' way of life. Baba Malay, the language spoken by by descendants of early Chinese immigrants to the Malay peninsula who intermarried with Malays, is no exception. Both the immigrants and the Malays they met hadn't had the benefit of a classroom, so 'bazaar' Malay and colloquial Hokkien went into the melting pot to produce this lively and gutsy language. The author helps us through our occasional bits of puzzlement in this Baba Malay - English dictionary by giving us the original Hokkien or Malay derivations of words that baffle. 223 pages ending with a glossary of cherki, the Straits Chinese card game, and illustrations of the cards. New Paperback First Edition
This comprehensive, but basic grammar textbook has a English-Malay vocabulary list, a Malay-English dictionary, three appendices of useful notes and numerous translation exercises. A useful guide for beginner learners of Malay. Good Hardback Reprint. Originally published in 1944 235 pages.
The book is part of the Museum's attempt to preserve Sabah languages and encourage their use. It is also intended to help Tobilung speakers better understand and speak English and Bahasa Malaysia. New Paperback. First Edition 83 pages
The purpose of this book is to both make Iban speakers more comfortable with the terminology used in social science work and to enable non-Iban speakers in this field to be understood in the community. The book takes the form of a dictionary giving the English word or phrase, followed by an explanation of its meaning and the translation of the English into Iban. New Paperback. First Edition. 127 pages.
A handbook for the newly arrived European housewife in Malaya. As the book says "There is practically no Grammar in "kitchen" Malay. It is mostly a matter of stringing words together, following the same order as English." As with most such books, their main purpose is to get the housework done, rather than to make casual conversation. Very Good Paperback Seventh edition. Originally published in 1929 43 pages.
This is probably the best known piece of historical fiction in Malay literature as it purports to relate how the Melaka sultanate was founded by descendants of Alexander the great and ended with the arrival of the Portuguese. This edition in the Malay language has been edited by the noted scholar, William Shellabear. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1896. 335 pages including 20 pages of notes.
Winstedt, perhaps the leading British scholar of Malay culture in the 20th century, sets down in this treatise his understanding of how Malay popular religion worked in the first half of the century. He explains how and why this ritual practice, grounded in animism and Hinduism, survives and retains its vitality in a predominantly Muslim society. Near Fine Paperback. Reprint. Last Revised 1961 180 pages whose contents include chapters on The Primitive Magician, Animism, Primitive Gods, Spirits and Ghosts, Hindu Influence, The Ritual of the Rice-Field, The Shaman's Seance, Sacrifice, Magician and Sufi and Magic in Daily Life. There are two appendices of the original Malay of passages quoted and further notes on practice. There is also a bibliography, an index and four black and white plates
Kajian penting ini asal usul dan pekembangan kongsi gelap Melayu di bahagian utara Semenanjung Tanah Melayu antara tahun 1821 dan 1941. Pengarang menumpukan perhatian kepada berberapa buah pertubuhan, termasuk Bendera Merah dan Benderah Putih di Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Kedah. New Paperback. Reprint
Wilkinson led the first systematic attempt to write an account of the Malays of the peninsula, their society, culture and history. The results were published in a series of papers. In this work the papers reprinted cover historical subjects, i.e. Part I - The Peninsular Malays, Part II - Perak State Council Minutes & Part III - Negri Sembilan. There is an introduction by Dr Peter Burns where he gives a background to the publication and describes the paper as a whole. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket First edition of this collection. The papers themselves were originally published in the 1920s. 468 pages Please see scanned contents pages for further details
The purpose of this brief study was to “determine the various forms and situations in which Malay ethnic identity is articulated” in daily life in Malaysia. The author based his studies on a community at Kampong Baharu, Selangor. He discovered that the concept of identity is not as static as many would argue, but rather goes through nuanced changes depending on the circumstances faced by individuals. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 62 pages.
An exciting, very readable and, probably, exaggerated account of a young American rubber planter in what he describes as 'the largest and probably the most primitive State of the Malay Peninsula." He sets out on his task as "one lone white man with a cane in his hand and a six-gun on his hip among thousands of natives." The story is set in between the two world wars. Very Good Paperback. French Language Edition 272 pages.
This book was produced for the 30th anniversary of the Star, once a Penang newspaper, but now a national one as well. Instead of devoting itself to the newspaper's history, the book reviews the history of Penang itself from when it was established as a trading port by the British in the late eighteenth century until the early 20th century. With a wide range of old photos accompanied by informative text from some heritage heavyweights. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Near Fine Hardback. First edition. 149 pages.
It appears this book was a complimentary gift to visitors to a hotel in Penang and was published by the then manager. Unlike many other more recent guide books, this one concentrates on telling you little things you may otherwise miss during your stay rather than loading you down with a lot of beautiful photographs. The book includes a brief, but sufficient, chronological history, a similar survey of local customs, the local sights, gourmet haunts and heaps of more tit bits about the island Very Good Paperback 64 pages.
Even in a country the size of Malaysia, differences in dialect can be significant. This is a glossary, issued by the country's leading authority on the Malay language, of the Penang dialect. Each word or phrase is illustrated by an example of use, a guide to pronunciation and a translation of the example into Bahasa Malaysia. 327 pages New Paperback. First Edition.
This is probably the best comprehensive, but handy, introduction to Straits Chinese culture on the market. The book doesn't strive to be academic, trying rather to focus mainly on the day to day lifestyle enjoyed by the Peranakans and the domestic items they used. The book consists mainly of excellently produced colour pictures, but there's also just enough text on hand to give you the basics about this vibrant hybrid culture. The author is the President of the Peranakan Association of Singapore. 280 pages. Chapters include Introduction: Who Were The Peranakans?, Weddings, Daily Life, Household, Leisure & Festivals. There is also a glossary, an index of artifacts and suggestions for further reading.
The second collection of poetry from this award winning Singaporean poet. Part of the selection includes free adaptations of the poetry of the late Tang poet, Li Shangyin. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. Dedication from the Author. 71 pages.
Although there is an ever increasing range of books on the dress, architecture, furniture, silver and much else of the Babas and Nyonya/Straits Chinese there's little published about how this mixed Chinese/Malay group amused themselves. Chee has remedied this by bringing together a wide selection of their traditional songs (with musical scores) and poetry. All of the contributions have English translations. The book also contains short pieces on Peranakan culture and an ample selection of photographs This fourth edition includes many new poems, songs and colour photographs together with other amendments to the earlier editions. 156 pages with a CD included,
Katherine Sim is best known for her illustrations of Malayan life in water colour and prose. Here she demonstrates that she was captivated by the country's literature too as she introduces the reader to the Malay pantun. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback. Second Edition. Originally published in 1957 90 pages.
This is the poet's sixth collection. The poems are based on her impressions of the generation gap between mothers and daughters. New Paperback. First Edition. 27 pages.
A collection of poems by this award winning Malaysian American poet. The poems reflect both Lim's nostalgia for her birthplace and her experiences of making a new home. Very Good Paperback in a Very Good Dust Jacket . First Edition. 173 pages
A collection of Malay poetry from various new poets. Very Good Board Book. Third Printing. Originally published in 1959. 60 pages.
A study of the the development of criticism of Malay poetry in the second part of the 20th century. The text is in Bahasa Malaysia. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 160 pages with an index.
The contributors look at the effect of the growing authoritarianism in Malaysia, particularly over the couple of decades prior to publication, together with the accelerated economic development that had occurred during the same period. In the course of their analyses they look at the effect on the arts, national and ethnic identities, politics and the social structure generally. Very Good Hardback First Edition. 325 pages including an index.
A collection of articles, mainly focused on unity in a multiethnic Malaysia, by the noted Malaysian academic. He also suggests solutions to some of the challenges facing the country. New Paperback. First Edition. 314 pages.
As the author says in her preface to this book, Malaysia's kingship is worthy of study because during the post-war period when most other monarchies around the world were losing their powers, Malaysia's hereditary rulers enjoyed something of a revival in the post-independence period. This survey from the British colonial period up to the present day must be the most exhaustive and enlightening study of the monarchy during this period. The book's 447 pages include some black and white historical photographs, genealogical tables of all the ruling houses chapters on 1 - Introduction: The Monarchy, 2 - Malay Kingship under British Colonial Rule, 3 - Malay Kingship under the Japanese Occupation, 4 - Malay Rulers and Malay Subjects, Round One: Malayan Union, a Draw, 1946, 5 - And the Real Contest Began, Round Two: Advantage to the Rulers, 1948-51, 6 - The Battle Royale, Round Three: UMNO the Ultimate Victors, 1951-55, 7 - Roles Reversed: UMNO, Rulers and Constitution, 8 - Living Happily Ever After? The Rulers-UMNO Post Independence Relations followed by appendices of important documents, a glossary, bibliography and index.
A collection of about two dozen articles by the author when he was a journalist for the Straits Times of Singapore in the last decade of the 20th century. It also happened to mark the first ten years of an independent Singapore without Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister. He gives an witty and readable insight into what he sees as the Singapore Government's style in interacting with its citizens in formulating and carrying out its policies. 223 pages. Near Fine Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 2000.
George's 'Singapore Air-Conditioned Nation', reflecting on the comfort and control measures employed by Government to maintain an underdeveloped democracy, was published to much acclaim in 2000. This book includes those essays, often shortened, further essays from 'Singapore, Incomplete', published in 2007, and new essays for this volume. The combination gives an astute and often humourous account of Singapore in the 21st century. New Paperback 320 pages
Aliran was formed in 1977 to be a 'non-partisan multi-ethnic reform movement' in Malaysia. This book contains the group's public statements and writings on issues such as corruption, democracy, race, education and religion during the first three years of their existence. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 391 pages.
A collection of postcards depicting life in Singapore at the beginning of the 20th century. The explanatory text is in English and French. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 177 pages with an index.
In a society where communal politics thrives, the author sets out a potential role for the Christian church in Sabah to bridge community divisions. Thu En Yu explores ways in which Christians can throw off the original association of their religion with colonialism by developing a religion and associated theology more deeply rooted in an indigenous identity. 263 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
This useful book brings together a collection of European writings about the spread of Islam to Indonesia and Malaysia. The main highlight is the translation into English of the late Professor RA Kern's "The Propagation of Islam" from the original Dutch. The contents of the book's 472 pages include The Propagation of Islam in the Indonesian Malay Archipelago by Kern, Portuguese and Spanish Projects for the Conquest of Southeast Asia, 1580-1600 by CA Boxer, Islam and Chineseness by D. Lombard & C Salmon, Religion, Tradition and the Dynamics of Islamization in South Sulawesi by Christian Pelras, Dividing the Islands: The Dutch Spice Monopoly and Religious Change in 17th Century Maluku by Hendrik E Niemeijer, The Bungaya Treaty of 18 November 1667, The Introduction of Islam into Champa by Pierre Yves Manguin as well as two extensive bibliographies . Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket
This book updates Gullick's previous history of Malaysia's capital city to the eve of World War II. Unlike his previous work this book is annotated so as to enable the reader to consult the relevant primary sources, if the the need should arise. 264 pages with a further 32 black and white photographs. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.New Paperback. Reprint
A brief history of Klang, the main port for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital. Sheppard argues that the area has a longer history than many other commercial centres in the country since artifacts, dating back to the first century AD, have been found in the area. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 58 pages with some maps and several illustrations.
With about half a dozen books about Kuala Lumpur's history to his name, Gullick was the principal historian in English of the city in the latter part of the 20th century. This reprint of a 1955 monograph was his original work on the subject. Although the early days described here might appear to bear little relationship to the sprawling metropolis of today, both settlements shared at least one common characteristic - a rapid growth with which administrators found it difficult, if not impossible, to keep up. 173 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Near Fine Hardback Reprint
In this study, King contrasts the adjoining cities of the multicultural Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's commercial capital, and the 'Malay-Muslim utopia' of Putrajaya, the country's administrative capital, He argues that the contrast exemplifies the rifts in the country between 'utopian dreams of the future and the reality of purposely forgotten pasts.'. New Paperback. First Edition. 321 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page
A trail blazing study of how the various Malayan sultans adapted to the crumbling and eventual disappearance of British rule as well as their contribution to Malay nationalism.Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 234 pages including appendices, bibliography and index.
A lecture delivered by the then heir apparent to the sultanate of Perak on Malaysia's unique system of monarchy. New Paperback. First Edition 26 pages.
The prime purpose of developing a railway system in Malaysia was to enable rubber and tin producers to get their products to consumers as quickly and economically as possible. This review concentrates on the railways until the end of the steam era. With a bibliography and photos, tables and maps. 74 pages. New Paperback First Edition
The author's father was one of the six survivors of the Sandakan Death March in Japanese occupied Borneo during the Second World War. Approximately 1,500 Australian and British prisoners of war died from the experience. Braithwaite retells the story from the different perspectives of all who went through it and also assesses the lasting toll on the survivors. New Paperback. First Edition 530 p[ages.
The story of fifteen Australian soldiers who escaped from Malaya as the Japanese invaded. Incredibly they managed to make it home after enduring much hardship. However their feat was never recognised at the time. Here nine of the survivors tell their story. Very Good Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket. First Edition. 176 pages with some black and white photographs.
The grim experiences of a prisoner of war under the Japanese in Malaya, Burma Thailand and Japan. Very Good Paperback. 261 pages.
An account of the Second World War in North Borneo, particularly the experiences of those interned by the Japanese. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 492 pages.
On 10th October 1943 57 civilian prisoners held in Changi Prison during the Japanese occupation were rounded up and tortured by the Kempetei, the Japanese military police, on suspicion of aiding and abetting a successful Allied raid on Singapore harbour where seven Japanese ships had been sunk. 15 of those tortured later died in prison. This book is a transcript of the trial of 21 of the Kempetei involved in the incident. Good Hardback. First Edition. 652 pages.
An account of the Royal Air Force's rearguard action to try to prevent the fall of Singapore. 22 pilots of 258 Fighter Squadron left Scotland in October 1941 and only nine survived the subsequent battles. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1977. 170 pages with an index and some black and white plates.
In 329 pages Studwell undertakes a thorough investigation of the dealings of multi millionaires, the godfathers, in the booming economies of Southeast Asia. They're usually from immigrant stock, often Chinese, with an uncanny ability to bend with the wind through colonialism, independence, insurrection and growth.With in depth studies of the eight of Asia's richest men the reader begins to understand their strategies for survival. Also included are thumb nail skethces of the main billionaires from South-East Asia as well as a bibliography, an appendix and an index Good Paperback
This is a collection of transcripts of interviews, originally published in the New Straits Times between 1998 and 2003, between the author, a well known Malaysian political scientist and a cross section of Asian intellectuals. The book is divided into four sections - I - Challenges of Islam in the Modern World, II - The Threat of Globalisation, III - The War Against Terror and IV - In A World of Conflict Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. 116 pages.
A collection of short stories inspired by the author's 15 year experience as a journalist in Southeast Asia. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 175 pages.
A selection of papers presented at a World Dance Alliance conference in 2006. The papers cover contemporary and folk dance in Cambodia, India, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. 129 pages
Based on original intelligence files of the period, the author explains the competing skulduggery between Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the USSR in the Far Eastern theatre leading up to and throughout the Second World War. Good Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1997. 510 pages.
This book was produced in co-operation with the Singapore National Library Board and illustrated by Lesley Gan. 78 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details
A collection of essays designed to introduce the reader to the unique character of Islam in Southeast Asia, which is often sidelined in Western consciousness in favour of the closer and louder version in the Middle East. Besides emphasizing Islam's all encompassing world view, which often differs from the way Western Christianity is practiced, the contributors look at the effects of the Hindu, Buddhist and colonial influences on Southeast Asian Islamic thought and practice. Near Fine Hardback. First Edition. 262 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
As with much religious architecture, the temples of Hinduism and Buddhism are imbued with symbolism, not only in the art and statues (if any), but also in the design of the buildings themselves. In this monumental work, Professor Bunce analyses the structures of temples stretching from India to Southeast Asia to explain the guiding principles of and messages intended to be conveyed by the builders. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 563 pages with around 400 figures and line drawings and an index.
A useful introduction to Islamic calligraphy that is found in mosques. After taking the reader through the history, significance and styles of such inscriptions, the author illustrates his analysis with examples from nine mosques, three each in Egypt, Malaysia and Turkey. New Paperback. First Edition. 131 pages with an index and several colour plates.
An introduction to a craft which has been part of a metalworking tradition for more than 3,000 years. The author looks at the traditions in each of the countries singling out their unique characteristics despite foreign influence. Very Good Hardback. First Edition 124 pages with several black and white and colour photographs and line drawings. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
An acclaimed guide to blue and white porcelain produced by Chinese Korean and Japanese factories. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. Third Edition. 86 pages with 10 colour plates, a further few pages of 100 black and white plates and an index
Articles include - Jews in the Mamlūk Environment: The Crisis of 1442 (A Geniza Study) - Mark R. Cohen; Magian Cheese: An Archaic Problem in Islamic Law - Michael Cook; Object Markers and Agreement Pronouns in Semitic Languages - G. A. Khan; Some Observations on the 'Abbāsid Caliphate of Cairo - P. M. Holt; Towards a Classification of Bedouin Dialects in Israel - Judith Rosenhouse; Drought, Human Sacrifice and the Mandate of Heaven in a Lost Text from the "Shang shu" - Sarah Allan. . Fine Paperback 193 pages First Edition
Articles include - A Contemporary Biography of Ras Alula: A Ge'ez Manuscript from Mänäwē, Tämbēn—I - Haggai Erlich; The Nasi-Ras Abbäbä Arägay Truce according to two Amharic Sources - Thomas L. Kane; Regional and Social Factors in the Dialect Geography of Southern Iraq and Khūzistān - Bruce Ingham; Some Grammatical Functions of Prominence in Arabic12 - Y. A. El-Haleese; Some Zaydī Views on the Companions of the Prophet - Etan Kohlberg; A Bronze Bowl Excavated at Ghubayrā - Géza Fehérvári; A Chinese Eratosthenes of the Flat Earth: A Study of a Fragment of Cosmology in Huai Nan Tzu - C. Cullen; Bantěn and the Dutch in 1619: Six Early ‘Pasar Malay’ Letters1 - M. C. Ricklefs; A New Look at the Sāsanavaṃsa - Victor B. Lieberman. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 264 Pages.
The contributors analyse the various violent flash points in an area which has been volatile since at least colonial times. Even militant Islamism, which is often seen as a new destabliser has roots that are centuries old. The sweep of the study stretches from Aceh to West Papua, but also includes Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Very Good Paperback 326 pages with a Bibliography.
Articles include - Hebrew Verse: apostrophe and epanalepsis - John Wansbrough; Negative and non-assertive in Contemporary Hebrew1 - Lewis Glinert; Levantine weights and standard parcels: a contribution to the metrology of the later Middle Ages - E. Ashtor; Dattātreya - I. M. P. Raeside; On the chapter divisions in the Lao-tzu - Robert G. Henricks; The syntactic status of quantifiers in Somali1 - John I. Saeed; Aspects of style and meaning in the analysis of a Hausa Poem - G. L Furniss. Fine Paperback 227 pages First Edition
A collection of essays presented to Professor DGE Hall on various aspects of Southeast Asian history and challenges faced in writing history of the area. Good Hardback. First Edition 436 pages with an index.
Articles include - Caucasica III: The Alān Capital *Magas and the Mongol Campaigns - V. Minorsky; The Persian Conception of Artistic Unity in Poetry and its Implications in Other Fields - G. M. Wickens; Rare and doubtful words in the poetry of Abū-l-‘Alā’ - Abdulla El Tayib; The Composition of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā - Edward Conze; The Phonology of the Sinhalese Inscriptions - P. B. F. Wijeratne; A Glimpse of the Goa Archives1 - C. R. Boxer; The Chronoloǵical Tables of Lei Li An Important Source for the Study of the Ming Bureaucracy - O. Berkelbach van der Sprenkel; Three old Achehnese Manuscripts - P. Voorhoeve; A Study of Two Fijian Texts - G. B. Milner. Good Paperback 264 pages First Edition
An unusual record of the Roman Catholic Bishops appointed to see in The Bishops of Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam over five centuries. Besides the chronological lists there are, in many case, photographs of the incumbents as well as correspondence about the subjects. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 150 pages.
Articles include - Studies on the Structure of the Mamluk Army1—I - David Ayalon; Studies in Islamic Metal Work—III1 - D. S. Rice; Saladin and the Assassins - Bernard Lewis; The Place of Politics in the Philosophy of Ibn Rushd - Erwin I. J. Rosenthal; A Novel Interpretation of Hafiz - Mary Boyce; Population Statistics of Ming China - Otto Berkelbach van der Speenkel; Two Substantival Complexes in Standard Chinese - H. F. Simon; East Himalayish - Robert Shafer; Particle-Noun Complexes in a Berber Dialect (Zuara)1 - T. F. Mitchell. Very Good Paperback 219 pages First Edition
Articles include - Inheritance in Seleucid Babylonia - G. J. P. McEwan; ‘We were not ordered with entering it but only with circumambulating it.’ Ḥadīth and fiqh on entering the Ka'ba1 - G. R. Hawting; Le contrat de quasi-aliénation des awqāf à Alger à la fin de la domination turque: étude de deux documents d' ‘anā’ - Miriam Hoexter; The Turkish Yarkand documents - Marcel Erdal; Ālu Kuṟumba riddles - Dieter B. Kapp; The Proto-Omotic verb formative *d– - R. J. Hayward. Fine Paperback 214 pages First Edition
Articles include - The Aramaic nomen agentis qātōl and some similar phenomena of Arabic - M. M. Bravmann; A letter from Th. Nöldeke to E. Mittwoch - Edward Ullendorff; An allegory from the Arabian nights: the City of Brass - Andras Hamori; The safe-conduct in Muslim chancery practice - John Wansbrough; The army in Palestine in the eighteenth century—sources of its weakness and strength - Amnon Cohen; Zoroastrian bāj and drōn—l - Mary Boyce, Firoze Kotwal; The Khwarezmian Glossary—II - D. N. MacKenzie; The Sanskrit text of the Siddhasāra - R. E. Emmerick; Some Chinese terms for musical repeats, sections, and forms, common to T'ang, Yüan, and Tōgaku scores - L. E. R. Picken; Mahōrasop II: The Thai National Library manuscript - E. H. S. Simmonds; Brass Kettledrums in Sabah - John Bastin; The camel and the needle's eye - A. S. Tritton. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 228 pages.
Articles include - The Mālikī Family Waqf According to Wills and Waqfiyyāt - Aharon Layish; An early source on Shaykh Khaḍir al-Mihrānī - P. M. Holt; Chotano-Sogdica - Nicholas Sims-Williams; On the term hsüan chi and the flanged trilobate Jade discs1 - Christopher Cullen, Anne S. L. Farrer; Tone-patterns in Zimbabwean Ndebele - David K. Rycroft. Near Fine Paperback 220 pages First Edition
A handy pocket guide to 68 of the most commonly encountered reef fishes in the tropics. Very Good Hardback. 64 pages with an index and many colour photographs.
Articles include - On a New Edition of the Dīwān of Ḥassān B. Thābit1 - M. J. Kister; A Contemporary Biography of Ras Alula: A Ge'ez Manuscript from Mänäwē, Tämbēn—II - Haggai Eblich; The Tomb of Ghāzī Evrenos bey at Yenitsa and its Inscription - Vasilis Demetriades; The Kuṣāṇa Trilingual - A. D. H. Bivar; The Meanings of the Term Gotra and the Textual History of the Ratnagotravibhāga1 - D. Seyfort Ruegg; Li Chien-Wu and Modern Chinese Drama1 - D. E. Pollard; Focus and the Morphology of the Swahili Verb - Joan Maw; George Steiner's after Babel1 - Edward Ullendorff. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 255 Pages.
Written and published at the height of the Cold War, this book is a call for a federation or commonwealth of Malay nations, also known as Maphilindo. At the time of the formation of the country that is known as Malaysia today there was a conference in Manila between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to discuss such an arrangement, but the idea was abandoned shortly afterwards as Indonesia and the Philippines pressed their claims on parts of Malaysian Borneo. The author was an officer in the Philippine army. Very Good Paperback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 79 pages.
This book serves as a useful introduction to domestic architecture in Southeast Asia, focusing, as one would expect, on how wood has been and is used as a building material. The author, a noted French architect, traces different building styles through history and includes external influences from China, Europe and India. Very Good Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 1987. 74 pages with maps illustrations and a bibliography.
A quirky collection of 14 Asian folk tales re-imagined with a modern twist. New Paperback. First Edition. 142 pages.
A reprint of various articles about Brunei and its history previously published in journals of The Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and its predecessors. 186 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Following his first visit to Angkor Clifford, then a British civil servant in Malaya, was inspired to write this romantic history of the Cambodia of the past. Good Hardback. 344 pages
From the 19th century onwards whenever a sufficient mass of colonists and entrepreneurs got a foothold in an area the establishment of a newspaper in the new arrivals' own language often followed. This work is an introduction to the variety of newspapers mainly in English, but also in French, German and Portuguese, that sprang up to cater for Europeans and Americans along the China coast. 235 pages whose contents include - I - The Character and Use of China-Coast Newspapers, II - The Development of China-Coast Newspapers, III - An Annotated List of China-Coast Newspapers, IV - Biographies of China-Coast Editors and Publishers, V - Extant Copies of China-Coast Newspapers, A Glossary of China-Coast Newspaper Titles, Appendices on Other China-Coast Periodicals & Japanese Language Newspapers. There is also a bibliography and an index.
Sports developed in ancient China mainly as a way of keeping fit to cope with a challenging environment and as a means of self defence. Here the authors outline the basics of such sports as forms of football, polo, kite flying, dragon boat racing, the board game of Go and others. New Paperback First English Language Edition. 92 pages with some black and white photographs
The author sets out to analyse and explain the characteristics of the people of Chinese origin, both within China and elsewhere in an attempt to determine why their impact has been so significant. This involves a journey through important milestones in Chinese history, philosophy and literature which it is hoped will not only inform ethnic Chinese of their heritage, but also enable other to understand them better. Good Paperback. First Edition. 470 pages with an index.
Although political theory abounds with models on how Communist dictatorships transform themselves into democracies, there is not such a wealth of information on how Leninists transform themselves to hold on to power. The contributors to this book examine the principal vehicle for such a transformation in China, the Chinese Communist Party, which still plays a pivotal role in the control and evolution of the country. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 320 pages with an index.
A novel, set in contemporary China, by the award winning Chinese author exploring the conflicts between convention and individualism, integrity and pragmatism and loyalty and betrayal. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 323 pages.
- Each book advertised below includes a brief description of its contents and condition as well as the price in Malaysian Ringgit. If you want a fuller description of a used book's condition, to look at the scanned contents page, if any, and/or to find out the price in USD, please click on the link in blue for the relevant book.
- If you click on a link after the current month and find nothing, the book's been sold.
- Of course, if you want to buy anything you see here, you can either do so from the site or contact me at penangbookshelf@gmail.com.
- This page will be updated constantly until the end of the month.
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Malaysia & Singapore - Agriculture
Malaysia & Singapore - Architecture
Malaysia & Singapore - Arts & Crafts
Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs
Borneo
Bishops and Brookes: The Anglican Mission and the Brooke Raj in Sarawak, 1848-1941 - Graham Saunders RM450
The world over immigrants tend to congregate initially in communities where members share a common origin. The same has been true in Sabah, the former British North Borneo, where the Hakka community are still the majority Chinese community. This book records the results of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the first members who established the Inanam-Menggatal-Telipok towns there. Besides being a record of the celebration in 2003, the book, bilingual in Chinese and English, contains historical articles on the community's development. New Paperback 189 pages.
The Societies of Borneo: Explorations of the Theory of Cognatic Social Structure - GN Appell (ed) RM120
This collection of articles was published as a result of a meeting between the American Anthropological Association and the Borneo Research Council, the premier body carrying out anthropological and sociological research in Borneo. Anthropologists generally were interested in Bornean research into forms of descent and kinship that were not rigidly patrilineal or matrilineal, but more fluid, i.e. cognate, than in most societies. These articles demonstrate the findings of researchers on this subject and pose challenges for previously agreed methods of determining kinship. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 160 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page
A comprehensive introduction to Sarawak in the 1960s, written for secondary school children. Good Paperback. Second Revised Edition. 214 pages with maps, black and white plates and line drawings.
Malaysia & Singapore - Business, Economics & Labour
Malaysia & Singapore – Children
A fairly cringe making, but amusing, attempt to educate British children about life in Malaya at the height of empire. The book begins with a story about Richard, who joins his father on a rubber plantation after a childhood in England because Malaya's climate is not 'good for a little white baby.' It continues with and adventure of Ahmat, a Sakai boy, and a folk tale. The book concludes with things to write about and things to do. The first task set is to answer the question, 'Why would you not like to live in British Malaya?' Good Paperback. First Edition 31 pages with some colour and black and white line drawings.
Malaysia & Singapore – Chinese Community & Culture
Malaysia & Singapore - Constitution, Laws & Legal System
Malaysia & Singapore – Cooking & Food
Malaysia & Singapore - Dance, Drama & Music
Malaysia & Singapore - Education
Malaysia & Singapore - The "Emergency"
Malaysia & Singapore - Environment, Nature & Wildlife
Malaysia & Singapore - Fiction
1819 - Isa Kamari RM70
A collection of 24 short stories in Malay by a well known writer who mainly flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 158 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Folklore
Malaysia & Singapore – Geography & Guide Books
A brief guide to Malaya at the end of the Second World War with information on the country's Government, peoples, history and geography. Good Paperback. First Edition 18 pages with a map and a few black and white plates.
Malaysia & Singapore - Health & Medicine
Malaysia & Singapore - History
Malaysia & Singapore - History (20th Century)
Malaysia & Singapore - Indian Community & Culture
Johor
Malaysia & Singapore - Journalism
Kelantan
Malaysia & Singapore – Language & Linguistics
This noted Malay language scholar attempts to list and evaluate 'publications devoted to or important for the study of Malay and Bahasa Indonesia.' Teeuw sets out to be as complete as possible, not only covering books dedicated to the language but also articles in professional periodicals as well. Very Good Paperback First Edition. 176 pages including an extensive bibliography and list of periodicals and text books.
A comprehensive encyclopedia of the lingua franca of the Malay Archipelago. The book not only details the varieties and spread of the language, but also the evolution of its phonology, vocabulary and grammar. Hardback. First Edition. 427 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - Literature
Malaysia & Singapore - Magic & Popular Religion
Malaysia & Singapore - Malay Community & Culture
Kongsi Gelap Melayu Di Negeri-Negeri Utara Pantai Barat Semenanjung Tanah Melayu - Mahani Musa RM150
Pahang
Penang
Malaysia & Singapore - Peranakan/Straits Chinese
Malaysia & Singapore - Poetry
Joned is a well established prose writer and poet in Malaysia. Although he prefers writing poetry in Malay, his output in English has also been significant. In this book we have a collection of his English poetry touching on themes that are universal. Near Fine Paperback First Edition 127 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Politics
Fragmented Vision: Culture and Politics in Contemporary Malaysia - Joel S Kahn & Loh Kok Wah (eds) RM180
Malaysia & Singapore - Postal History
Malaysia & Singapore - Race Relations
Malaysia & Singapore - Religion
Selangor
Sultans & Royalty
Malaysia & Singapore – Transport
Malaysia & Singapore - World War II
A collection of sketches by the artist based on his memories as a Japanese Prisoner of War. Good Paperback. Second Edition. Signed by the artist. 52 pages.
Slaves of the Son of Heaven: A Personal Account of an Australian POW, 1942-1945 - Roy Whitecross RM50
Asia
As with much religious architecture, the temples of Hinduism and Buddhism are imbued with symbolism, not only in the art and statues (if any), but also in the design of the buildings themselves. In this monumental work, Professor Bunce analyses the structures of temples stretching from India to Southeast Asia to explain the guiding principles of and messages intended to be conveyed by the builders. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 563 pages with around 400 figures and line drawings and an index.
Violence in Between: Conflict and Security in Archipelagic Southeast Asia - Damien Kingsbury (ed) RM120
Eastern Heathens: An Anthology of Subverted Asian Folklore - Amanda Lee Koe & Ng Yi-Sheng (eds) RM120
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Bringing the Party Back In: How China is Governed - Kjeld Erik Brødsgaard & Zheng Yongnian (eds) RM200
The Crazed - Ha Jin RM60
Ever since the fleeing Kuomintang established themselves as a government in Taiwan in 1949, its existence has been precarious because of threats from the neighbouring Peoples Republic of China. In this book contributors from China, Taiwan and other parts of Southeast Asia analyse not only the relationship between China and Taiwan, but also the effects of the strained relationship on ASEAN and Southeast Asia generally particularly in the light of China's territorial claims on parts of the South China Sea. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 305 pages with an index.
India
A short history of the East India Company from the issuing of its Royal Charter in 1600 to its collapse some two and a half centuries later in the aftermath of The Indian Mutiny/Indian Rebellion/First War of Independence. While most histories concentrate on the Company's activities in India, Lawson brings forward a more balanced view, discussing what was happening in Britain at the time including the Company's impact on British politics and the internal disputes with in the Company that were responsible for its rise and fall. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 188 pages. with a bibliography, three maps and an index.
Indonesia
Japan
Pakistan
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Thailand
A catalogue of Thai bank notes from their first issue in 1853 until the twelfth issue. The text is in Thai and English Very Good Paperback. First Edition 126 pages with many colour plates, a list of the issues and a list of signatures.
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