New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf
in
April 2021
(Last Updated 29-4-21)
A sympathetic account of the life of an ah ma/ ni boh (nanny) by one of her charges. Tan Ah Lee escaped a troubled family life in China to come to work for the author's family in Singapore and remained an essential part of that family until she died at over 100 years old. As this biography demonstrates such servants, besides being an important formative influence on the children in their care, often provided advice and support to adult family members. New Paperback. First Edition. 216 pages with some black and white photographs.
In this fascinating study, Lee charts the role played by a prominent Singapore business man who also at the centre of post World War II politics as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce's representative on the Legislative Council. One of the principal issues of the time was the extent of political participation to be allowed to China-born Chinese when the colonial government was experimenting with a limited form of democracy. Tan's role was crucial not only in acting as an intermediary and mediator between the Government and Chinese interests, but also between factions within the Chinese community as well. 176 pages. New Paperback. First Edition
Tommy Thomas, although well known and respected in legal circles, rose to prominence when the new Pakatan Harapan Government, campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, appointed him as Attorney General to clear up past corruption through the courts. He was the first He was the first practicing barrister to be appointed directly from the Malaysian Bar to this office and the first non-Malay and non-Muslim Malaysian to hold this post since the formation of Malaysia in 1963. This book charts his life in tandem with Malaysia's post independence political development until the collapse of the Government in 2020, less than two years after winning the 14th Malaysian General Election. The book has become a best seller in Malaysia and Singapore not only because of Thomas' trenchant insights into causes of he Government's collapse but because of the general respect in which he is held. New Paperback. First Edition. 531 pages.
A collection of stories, many of them autobiographical, about growing up in the newly independent Malaya and Singapore. Davison was born a year before independence and so experienced the slow loosening of colonial habits in favour of the new. Good Paperback. First Edition 229 pages with some black and white photographs.
In his nearly fifteen years at the centre of the Department of History at the University of Singapore, Tregonning was a spur to a revival of historiography in the Southeast Asian region. In this anecdotal collection of reminiscences he reveals something of the excitement of a time of change. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. New Paperback 108 pages.
Very often the independence movement to remove the British from Malaya is portrayed as being an initiative of the Chinese community. This was particularly so during World War II and the subsequent 'Emergency.' These memoirs of a leading Malay nationalist, who took part in an anti-colonial youth movement as soon as he left school in 1939 and carried arms against first the Japanese and then the British, reminds readers of the important contribution of members of the Malay community to attempts to build a multicultural socialist Malaysia. New Paperback 206 pages with a few photographs and an index.
Heidi Munan uses her 30 years' experience in being involved in and studying Sarawak culture in this book which has a good balance of stunning photographs and well informed text. Ms Munan's experience as Honorary Curator of Beads at the Sarawak Museum stands her in good stead as she explains the significance of beads in Sarawak's social, religious and cultural life. The contents of this 144 page book include 1 - Borneo: The Land and People, 2 - Beadmakers, Bead Sellers, Bead Buyers, 3 - Beads of Power, 4 - Beads as Wealth, 5 - Beads of Beauty, 6 - The Bead Trade Today and 7 - Bead Names. New Paperback. Reprint
A collection of experiences of anthropologists, historians and sociologists recounting the joys and frustrations of actually carrying out the necessary field work on which their academic work is based. The contributors are both from Malaysia and elsewhere their subjects are not only the indigenous peoples of the state, but other communities as well. 181 pages. New Paperback
This book claims to be the first comprehensive review of nomadic peoples throughout the island of Borneo. The contributors look not only at their present plight, particularly with regard to the effects on them of deforestation, but also harks back to past life patterns which it is now so difficult to preserve. The modern research also analyses the interaction between these minorities, the majority communities and the State. New Paperback. First Edition. 384 pages with an index, maps, tables and a figure
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.
A photographic essay, covering Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak, demonstrating the talents of KF Wong, 'The Father of Sarawak Photography'. The text is in Chinese and English Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 192 pages with a wide selection of black and white and colour photographs and an introduction by Malcolm MacDonald.
Ada Pryer, was the wife of the first British Resident of Sandakan, North Borneo (now Sabah). Fortunately rather than complain or just being resigned to her lot, as could be said by many of her British contemporaries, she had an avid curiosity as to what was happening around her and committed her observations to paper. In this book Corpuz collects together both Ada Pryer's short stories and articles, many of which have not been published before, to reveal insights, unlike many of her male white contemporaries, into the complex community where she had settled. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. with maps, contemporary watercolours and the author's own prints.
This is not a philately book, but rather about the contribution of the De La Rue Company to the printing of Sarawak stamps between 1888 and 1934. The book gives a look behind the scenes of the relationship between the company and the Brooke administration of the period. 293 pages with many black and white illustrations and tables. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. Near Fine Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket
A collection of folk tales from North Borneo, now Sabah, as were told to the author by 'brown people' during his stay there. Good Hardback. First Edition 123 pages with 8 colour illustrations by Mary Penrose-Thackwell. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
This is a translation by Jerome Rousseau of the first book ever written by a Kayan, a member of a small Sarawak tribal group, in the Kayan language. The purpose of the book is to explain to the laity Adat Bungan, a reform of traditional Kayan religion that flourished in the 1940s and 1950s. The reforms aimed to remove many of the taboos and rituals of the old religion, Adat Dipui, which the reformers no longer thought to be relevant. The book contains the original Kayan version and its translation into English. Near Fine Paperback 124 pages.
The author, an Australian history, professor first became intrigued by Margaret Brooke, wife of Charles, the second Rajah of Sarawak, on a visit to Kuching. In the course of her research she discovered the existence of Esca, Charles' first son born to his Malay wife, who appeared to have been erased from the family's history. This book explains how that came to be and how Esca's body can now be found in a Canadian graveyard. Near Fine Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 235 pages.
The memoirs of a former administrative officer of the British North Borneo Company, who survived being a prisoner of war to become Director of Information and Broadcasting with the British Government as his paymasters. After Sabah became a part of Malaysia Brooks returned to found the Sabah Museum. Near Fine Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition 256 pages.
Three economists pick over the pieces of the aftermath of the 1997-98 financial crisis as it affected Malaysia to discover what happened and what were the lasting effects on the country's economy. The Malaysian Government claimed that its policies were responsible for the strong recovery in the two succeeding years, while the global financial community's view was that Government action was motivated by the need to rescue politically influential corporate interests. The authors argue in readable prose that neither view quite told the whole story. A chronology of events and case studies are included. New Paperback. 349 pages with a bibliography and index.
The author sets out to show that Western management theories are often at odds with the reality of the workplace. He believes that management linked to employees' beliefs leads to a happier work environment. The book is intended for both Muslims and others. New Paperback. First Edition. 135 pages with an index.
A group of animals set off to discover the Great Pearl in the hope of restoring peace to the forest. A children's story. New Paperback. First Edition. 182 pages.
After more than 25 years studying the Chinese Malaysian community, Carstens has drawn together various elements of her published work in this wide ranging and informative book. All of the papers return to two principal questions - 1 - How has being Chinese shaped the responses of the community to a range of changes that have taken place since their first arrival? and 2 - How has this community's experience in Malaysia affected the way in which the community identifies itself as Chinese? 314 pages including an appendix with a media viewing questionnaire used in Carstens' research, 3 maps, 20 black and white illustrations, notes, a glossary, an index and a bibliography. Papers include - Chinese Culture and Polity in 19th century Malaya: The Case of Yap Ah Loy, From Myth to History: Yap Ah Aloy and the Heroic Past of Chinese Malaysians, Pulai, Hakka, Chinese, Malaysian: A Labyrinth of Cultural Identities, Form and Content in Malaysian Hakka Culture, Gender, Temple and Community in a Hakka Malaysian Settlement, Border Crossings: Hakka Chinese Lessons in Diasporic Identities, Dancing Lions and Disappearing History: The National Culture Debates and Chinese Malaysian Culture, Constructing Transnational Identities? Mass Media and the Malaysian Chinese Audience, What Does It Mean to be Chinese? Malaysian Chinese Identities in Motion. New Paperback Reprint
When initially staged in 1987 Army Daze, about the crazy capers of a group of army recruits, was Singapore's most popular play. The play was then made into a film in 1996. In this book the film script has been transformed into a comic novel. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1996.
While Nyonya cooking books come thick and fast this one is a little more unusual in that it's the result of two years research by the State Chinese (Penang) Association, a 'guardian of the Penang Peranakan (Straits Chinese) Culture' and the publishers to capture many familiar and many almost forgotten recipes of this distinctive creole cuisine. A Debbie Teoh was even used as the 'food tester' in the hope of ensuring the recipes' authenticity. New Paperback 248 pages including colour illustrations of the recipes and much else besides. There is also an index of the recipes. Chapters include - A Brief History, Festivals & Festive Food, Nyonyaware, The Nyonya Kitchen, Cooking Methods, Ingredients, Sambal + Sauces, Pickles, Snacks & Starters, Kerabu, Vegetables, Soups + Stews, Poultry, Pork, Seafood, Rice + Noodles, Kuih, Sweet Broths + Drinks, New Year Cookies + Sweets and Confinement Food.
Kueh, a small cake, usually sweet, are a popular snack in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. They're often prepared by specialist bakers using 'grandmas' recipes' and are generally not attempted by the home cook. In this book, the author seeks to bring both the making and appreciation of kueh within the reach of everyone. New Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 2020. 292 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
Accounts of the crushing of the Communist threat in post war Malaya has been mainly left to military historians and military participants. This book attempts to redress that imbalance by demonstrating the vital importance of the work of British police and kampung Malays in brining the conflict to an end. It may not be remembered now that for every soldier that was killed in this conflict, two policemen died. 377 pages with an index, a chronology, an explanation of the police structure, a bibliography and a glossary of Malay idioms. Very Good Paperback. Second Edition
For details of the subjects covered in this issue, please ask. New Paperback. First Edition 108 pages
Barnard has produced in this book an authoritative history of Singapore's first World Heritage site, its Botanic Gardens. Although visitors appreciate the gardens as a restful retreat in the midst of a busy city, this book also details the institution's role as a place of scientific research and as a testing ground for planting tropical crops and the struggles both within and the pressures from without to define its role. New Paperback 287 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Originally published in the 1950s, this is a District Officer's account not only of his experiences in hunting tigers, but also one of the most readable works on the Malayan tiger as well. For Locke, rather than being a trophy hunter, was a conservationist, as keen to protect the rural population in his charge as the tigers and their threatened environment. 187 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Near Fine Paperback. Reprint
This work was the tropical gardener's 'bible' for the first part of the twentieth century. Originally published in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1910, the book's authority was bolstered by the author's thirty year experience running the country's main botanical gardens. This edition, revised by HS Barlow, I Enoch and RA Russell, is the first time the book had been updated since World War II and, as it was published in Malaysia, includes not only information about plants that do not grow in Sri Lanka, but also a wealth of updated information on the species generally. Very Good Hardback. 6th Edition. 767 pages including reproductions of the original black and white plates, an updated bibliography and indices of Common and Scientific Names and a general index.
This novel has the distinction of being the first novel written in English by a Malaysian woman. Through clever interplay of periods and personalities, the author takes us on a journey that involves inter-racial romance and being a mystery thriller to discoveries about conflicting and re-affirming discoveries about racial prejudice and varieties of perception. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1994 pp 337
A romance set in Perak amongst the Malaysian Indian community just before the outbreak of World War II. New Paperback 364 pages.
The three books of the trilogy Time for a Tiger, Enemy in the Blanket and Beds in the East are some of the best known works in English of the effects of the Malayan Emergency on the declining British Empire and those who struggled to maintain it and those who were ready to see it go. Burgess took the trouble to learn both spoken and written Malay which enabled him to present a more multi-dimensional picture of society than many of his contemporaries writing about the country. 583 pages. New Paperback Reprint
Anthony is in his element again, writing fact or fiction about Malaya's 'Emergency' period. This novel, though mainly set in Malaya, spans several Southeast Asian countries as the movement comes to terms that it has a traitor in its midst. This narrative serves as a backdrop to the twists and turns of a romance between two comrades in the struggle, striving to keep their love alive at the centre of war and intrigue. New Paperback 393 pages.
Bastin, arguably the world's leading expert on Stamford Raffles, has in this book assembled a collection of previously unpublished letters between Raffles and Warren Hastings, his superior, two of the main protagonists in the establishment of a British East India base in Singapore. The two did not completely trust each other, but against criticism at home and threats from the Dutch dominance of the area, they co-operated to establish what was to become the cornerstone of the British presence in Southeast Asia. New Soft cover. First Edition. 235 pages with an index and many illustrations.
This interesting study traces the development of the civil service in Malaya from a structure set up with British management through to the indigenisation of the service and its emergence as the backbone of the newly independent government. The contents of the 175 page book include 1 - The Malayan Environment, 2 - Colonial Bureaucracy and the Malayan Colonial Experience, 3 - The Transitional Phase, 4 - The Institutional Legacy, 5 - The Administrative Legacy & 6 - Malayan Bureaucracy: The Process of Change and the Future. There is a bibliography of public documents relating to the subject and also three appendices. Good Hardback. First Edition
Between 1998 and 2002, the author had published a popular weekly newspaper column, 'Long Life', recounting life's pleasures and troubles as experienced by the ordinary man and woman on the street from prewar days through to Singapore's transformation into the commercial hub of Southeast Asia. New Paperback. First Edition. 209 pages with several black and white photographs
This book is interesting as it's written by a US academic specialising in Southeast Asian affairs in the immediate aftermath of the Japanese conquest of Malaya. She doesn't seek to examine the campaign that led to the collapse of British colonial rule, but rather to look principally at British political preparedness. Through a detailed analysis of the methodology of decades of British colonial intervention in Malaya she argues that the British failure in Malaya was the result of the way the British attempted to rule the country and their attitude to its inhabitants. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 323 pages including a bibliography and index. The contents include the following chapters - I - Rulers and Subjects, II - The Mosaic of Peoples, III - The Land and Climate, IV - Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, V - Tin Mining and Smelting, VI - Rubber Growing, VII - The Attempt to Industrialise, VIII - Labor, IX - Finances, X - Wartime Trade, XI - Military History, XII - Wartime Controls & XIII - Malay Nationalism and the War. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket First Edition
A collection of previously published articles with the author's observations on Malaysian life at the start of a new century. His education in an Indian kindergarten, a Catholic missionary school, a Malay college and an Islamic university qualifies him to be a multiracial champion as his witty and candid comments reveal what really makes Malaysians tick. New paperback. First Edition. 227 pages.
The author was known for his witty commentary on daily life in Malaysia. This is a selection from his columns for the Malay Mail newspaper from 1961 to 1972. Good Hardback in a Fair Dust Jacket. First Edition 500 pages.
Banks conducts the reader through a medley of Malay novels at a time when the genre was beginning to find its stride. Novels are relatively new in the corpus of world literature with the first Malay novel having been published in the 1920s. In this review we see how a range of writers tackle the perceived moral issues facing Malay culture in the midst of a rapidly changing world. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. 200 pages with an extensive bibliography and index.
A historical novel based on the exploits of Mat Salleh's opposition to the British in North Borneo. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 319 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
Nationalism thrives on myth. One of Malay nationalism 's sustaining myths is the idyllic life of the kampung. Ethnographer Kahn tries to discover whether the kampung of the 1920s to 1950s ever actually existed. New Paperback 228 pages with appendices, notes, a bibliography.
The purpose of this work was to catalogue the extant painting and prints of Penang from the 1770s until the nearly a hundred years later when photography arrived. After research in Museums in Malaysia and Singapore, India Office Library in London and amongst private collections, Lim was able to assemble more than 160 paintings, prints and sketches which are now reproduced, mostly in colour, for this book. Each of the items are annotated by annotated by the author, a noted architect and conservationist of his time. 236 pages. including a bibliography. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust jacket. Signed by the Author First Edition
Vaunay has collected together the journals and sketches of an unsung, but pioneering, traveller in the Malay peninsula of the 19th century. De Morgan came to Malaya to secure a tin mining concession and set off into the interior of Perak to prospect for a suitable site for his employers. In doing so he was probably the first European to visit the dense jungles inhabited by orang asli (indigenous peoples) whom he treated with respect. The resulting record of his travels is part adventure story, part botanical record and part ethnographical study. New Paperback. 226 pages with numerous line drawings and a fold out map.
This is a brief history of the State of Perak transformed into a personal photo essay. It is an attempt to render the author's academic thesis, From Natural Economy to Capitalism: The State and Economic Transformation in Perak, Malaysia c.1800-2000, more readable for the general public. New Paperback. First Edition. 85 pages with many, mainly colour, photographs.
At the time he wrote this McNair had been first a British East India Company employee and a colonial official in Malaya for more than twenty years. The book was probably prompted by the killing of the Resident of Perak, JWW Birch, three years before the book's publication. This event served to bring the Malay peninsula to the attention of the British public. So, in some considerable detail, McNair sets out not only to describe almost every aspect of the state and its peoples, but also the events that led up to Birch's death and the subsequent 'pacification' afterwards. New Paperback. Reprint and Reedited. Originally published in 1878. 316 pages with 13 engravings
For some centuries before the main influx of Chinese immigrant labour into Southeast Asia from the 19th century onwards, Chinese had settled in the region intermarrying with members of their hoist communities and developing a distinct culture of their own. In this fascinating little book, the authors reveal the many quirks and superstitions of that culture including the power of yam stalks to control errant husbands, why children are never given sugarcane at twilight and a wealth of other information that influences the lives of the Peranakan people. New Paperback. First Edition. 152 pages with some line drawings.
The Baba of Melaka are probably the descendants of the first Chinese to settle on the peninsula and intermarry with the Malay population. The result, as Tan contends in 'this first comprehensive study of the ethnic identity of the Baba in Melaka', is a community that is basically Chinese, but which is heavily influenced by Malay culture and speak Malay, rather than Chinese, amongst themselves. Based on extensive field work in the community, the author captures the essence of a small, but influential, group keen to preserve its individual identity amidst the swirl of the more strident identities of the Chinese and Malay communities in post-independence Malaysia. 303 pages with an index, 49 black and white plates, a bibliography and various figures and tables. New Paperback Revised Second Edition
The beautiful output of ten years travelling to "every accessible corner of Malaysia" by the photographer Hans Hoefer. With text by Peter Hutton. Very Good Hardback First Edition 208 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Hardback First Edition
A collection of this well known Singaporean literary figure's poems on death, not only at the end of life, but also the many deaths and rebirths that characterise our lives. New Paperback First Edition 82 pages.
Tan's fifth collection of poems finds him in a reflective mood as he navigates middle age. New Paperback. First Edition 80 pages.
The author, a qualified medical practitioner, turned to politics after 18 years in Government service and founded the Parti Sosialis Malaysia with others. He is noted for having wrested the parliamentary seat of the leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress, a member of the ruling Government coalition and having held the seat in a subsequent election. This is a collection of his speeches, papers and letters. New Paperback First Edition 135 pages.
There has been a growing trend in Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia for China's large multinational state-owned businesses to be the source of considerable inward investment in these countries. In this book a group of economic and China specialists examine various case studies of such investments in Malaysia. They argue that a 'well constructed institutional architecture is needed' to protect Malaysian players against the obvious power imbalances that exist in such relationships. New Paperback 116 pages with figures and a bibliography.
A collection of articles from an academic who was actively pursued his interests in politics and literature during his career. The collection is divided into the following sections - I - Realpolitik and Communalism, II - Failed Nationalism and the New Malay, III - Education and Society & IV - Media and Culture. With an introduction by Clive Kessler. New Paperback 179 pages.
Cited by the US Association for Asian Studies in 2003 as one of the 25 works most frequently cited in the field of Southeast Asian history, this work used Malay and European source materials in an attempt to form an assessment of Malay political thought before significant European intervention in the Malay world. The book has as its focus Malay views of the state on the peninsula and in North Sumatra which throws light on Malay politics some two centuries later. This second edition has been revised by the author. 228 pages. New Second Edition. Paperback
This book is a collection of papers by young scholars presented at the Fourth International Malaysian Studies Conference held in 2004. All of the contributors focus on how they see the state of Malay politics particularly how it deals with human rights, law and democracy, gender and Islam. New Paperback 160 pages.The papers are - Introduction: Resistance to Change - Malay Politics in Malaysia - Edmund Terence Gomez, 1 - Legal Coercion, Legal Meanings and UMNO's Legitimacy - Marzuki Mohamad, 2 - Globalisation, State and G/Local Human Rights Actors: Contestations between Institutions and Civil Society - Carolina Lopez C., 3 - Gender Discourse in Malay Politics: Old Wine in New Bottles? - Helen Ting, 4 - PAS Politics: Defining an Islamic State - Liew Chin Tong & Voting for Change? Islam and Personalised Politics in the 2004 General Election - Khadijah Md Khalid. There is also an index.
This is the third in a set of bibliographies of literature concerning West Malaysia and Singapore. This work covers all religions practiced in the area except that of the Orang Asli, non-Christian Chinese beliefs and customs, Islamic History and church schools, all of which are intended to be covered in later specialised bibliographies. Fine Paperback. First Edition. 151 pages.
Although Kuala Lumpur has many of the appearances of a modern 21st city with soaring tower blocks intersected and surrounded by a maze of motorways, this book demonstrates that many traces of the city's past, both in architecture, trades and pastimes still manage to thrive. In a city that is not known to be pedestrian friendly, the authors have managed to demonstrate that a car is not essential to enjoy the streets. New Paperback. Second Edition. Originally published in 2008. 150 pages with an index, maps, suggested walks and many line drawings.
The Selangor Journal, published as a fortnightly newsheet in the last decade of the 19th century, was aimed at the entertainment and edification of the small society of less than 500 expatriates living in Kuala Lumpur at the time. Its 16-20 pages not only included local news but interesting articles on other aspects of Malayan life as well, just as the British colonial presence in the region was becoming established. 646 pages with an index. New Paperback. Reprint
In this volume of the comprehensive encyclopedia of Malaysia, the contributors have produced an extensive review of sports and pastimes in Malaysia at the beginning of the 21st century Besides covering sports in which Malaysia has excelled internationally, such as badminton, this volume includes pastimes such as chess and online gaming as well a whole range of traditional sports and recreational activities. New Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 184 pages with an index and many black and white band colour illustrations.
The author's unusual story concerns his time in Syonan meaning 'the light of the South,' the Japanese name for Singapore, where he was based from late 1938 until the Japanese surrender in 1945. He arrived as a journalist, was jailed by the British as a spy and then joined the Japanese administration on the fall of Singapore in 1942. While working with the Japanes occupation he secretly provided safety passes and safe havens for citizens being hunted by the Kempeitai, Japan's dreaded secret police. He finished his stay in Singapore as a vital witness for the prosecution in war crimes trials of Japanese occupation officials. Very Good Paperback. Reprint 176 pages.
A collection of papers presented to LD Barnett on the occasion of his retirement as editor of the Bulletin. Besides the articles there is a bibliography of Barnett's published work. 366 pages with some black and white plates. Please see the scan of the contents pages for further details.
220 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback,. First Edition
229 pages with some black and white plates. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback,. First Edition
Articles include - S. M. STERN: Petitions from the Ayyubid period; R. B. SERJEANT : Some irrigation systems in Hadramawt; T. M. JOHNSTONE: Further studies on the Dosiri dialect of Arabic as spoken in Kuwait ; R. M. SAVORY; Some notes on the provincial administration of the early·Safawid empire; C. H. B. REYNOLDS : Participial forms in early Sinhalese prose Very Good Paperback,.264 pages First Edition
Articles include - G. W. B. HUNTINGFORD : ' The wealth of kings' and the end of the Ziigue dynasty; R. E. EMMERICK : Syntax of the cases in Khotanese; ROSE LOUISE GREAVES: British policy in Persia, 1892-1903-1; PADMANARH S. JAINI: Mahadibbamanta: a paritta manuscript from Cambodia; I. M. P. RAESIDE : The Panduranga-mahiitmya of Sridhar; R. WILLIAMS: Haribhadra; M. HISKETT : The ' Song of Bagauda ' : a Hausa king list and homily in verse-II Very Good Paperback,.248 pages First Edition
Bulletin of The School of Oriental and African Studies XXVIII Part 2 (1965) RM60
Bulletin of The School of Oriental and African Studies XXVIII Part 3 (1965) RM60
223 pages with some black and white plates. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Good Paperback,. First Edition
222 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback. First Edition
212 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback. First Edition
220 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
In a globalised world, the teaching of English has assumed a special importance. In this book a collection of contributors, from West to East Asia, look at the methodology and experiences of teaching the language to a range of students from a wide spectrum of cultural backgrounds. The past absence or presence of previous European colonisation in particular regions affects language teaching today. New Paperback. 251 pages
The contributors to this book seek to unravel various trends in East Asia at the beginning of the 21st century. Issues tackled include the development of regionalism in the area, the impact of China's foreign aid, the competitiveness of Chinese vis a vis South Korean manufacturers, North Korea's effect as a nuclear power and trends within Japan. New Paperback. First Edition. 116 pages with figures and an index
This century is a period that's generally skipped over by historians because of the lack of documentary and inscriptional evidence. However, the academics who have contributed papers to this volume claim that this century laid the foundation for early modern Southeast Asia. The argument rests on developments such as the introduction of firearms, more intensive rice agriculture, Thai and Viet ceramic exports, Korean and Ryukyu contacts with Southeast Asia, the demise of Champa, the climax of Viet and northern Tai statecraft, the birth of the Melayu-Muslim kingship in Melaka and the creation of a new Muslim Javanese civilization on Java's north coast. Coincident with these changes, Ming China's engagement with Southeast Asia grew as a result of overland expansion into the Tai and Viet polities, state-sponsored maritime voyages, and private Chinese trade and migration to the region. 512 pages. New Paperback
A guide book to the railway systems of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Although the timetables are probably out of date, the book also contains itineraries, notes on places of interest and the passing landscape and the history of railways within the region. Good Paperback. 214 pages with an index and some black and white photographs
An introduction to the teachings of such ancient Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, Laozi, Mencius and others. The book's focus is on such of their teachings as are applicable to modern life. New Paperback. First English Language Edition 82 pages with some black and white plates and line drawings
Although China is known for having invented printing and gunpowder, other innovations predating Western equivalents by as much as a thousand years, are less well known. This book serves as an introduction to a wide range of ground breaking discoveries from ancient Chinese history. New Paperback. First English Language Edition 70 pages with some black and white plates and line drawings.
The book is an attempt to explain Buddhism by a devotee who found enlightenment in adult life and went on to found a contemplative order. In doing so, he introduces the reader to a range of Buddhist deities adopted by Chinese Buddhists and others in Southeast Asia. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 159 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page
Francis Seow-Choen continues his meticulous research of the stick insects of Southeast Asia in his sixth book on the subject. This latest volume, A Taxonomic Guide to Stick Insects of Sumatra Volume II (2020) lists 21 new species or subspecies, one new genus, the designation of 3 lectotypes, one neotype designation, one new synonymous genus, 9 synonymous species, 5 revised specific statuses, 20 new combination names, the description of the unknown sex of 7 species, and 3 new records for Sumatra. The number of recognized species in Sumatra listed stands at 190. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 416 pages with many colour illustrations.
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 Japanese etiquette. There are sections on the giving of gifts, festivals, meals and Japanese etiquette generally. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 70 pages with an index.
The unusual autobiography of a successful international British pop star of the 1970s, who gave it all up when he converted to Islam at the height of his fame. After several years immersing himself in his new faith he reemerged as a philanthropist, advocate for a nonviolent Islam and eventually as a pop star again. The book is written in English and has been The Penang Bookshelf's best selling book. New Hardback 105 pages.
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- The prices shown here hold good for at least this month, but for out of print books, the prices may change in subsequent months.
- All prices include free postage to anywhere in Malaysia and to Singapore.
Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs
In this book, originally published in 1959, a year before his death, Dr Wu takes the reader through his extraordinary life from being born in Penang to becoming the first person of Chinese descent to graduate in medicine from Cambridge University and then to changing the face of medicine in China at the start of the 20th century. Arguably he could also claim credit for being the first Chinese doctor to demonstrate the effectiveness of modern medicine in the country as his research helped halt the Manchurian Plague. He was the first president of the Chinese Medical Association and established twenty medical institutions in China. 672 pages with appendices, Dr Wu's obituary in the Times newspaper and indices of Chinese and Non-Chinese people mentioned in the text. New Hardback. Reprint
Borneo
Bishops and Brookes: The Anglican Mission and the Brooke Raj in Sarawak, 1848-1941 - Graham Saunders RM450
Borneo Scene - KF Wong RM250
The White Rajahs of Sarawak: Dynastic Intrigue and the Forgotten Canadian Heir - Cassandra Pybus RM220-
Malaysia & Singapore - Business, Economics & Labour
Malaysia & Singapore - Children
The Quest for the Great Pearl - Patricia GI Chew RM50
Malaysia & Singapore - Chinese Community & Culture
Histories, Cultures, Identities: Studies in Malaysian Chinese Worlds - Sharon A. Carstens RM150
Malaysia & Singapore - Cinema, Dance, Drama & Music
Malaysia & Singapore - Cooking & Food
Kueh, a small cake, usually sweet, are a popular snack in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. They're often prepared by specialist bakers using 'grandmas' recipes' and are generally not attempted by the home cook. In this book, the author seeks to bring both the making and appreciation of kueh within the reach of everyone. New Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 2020. 292 pages. For further details please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - The 'Emergency'
Malaysia & Singapore - Environment, Nature & Wildlife
Malaysia & Singapore - Fiction
Malaysia & Singapore - History (19th Century)
Malaysia & Singapore - History (20th Century)
Malaysia & Singapore - Humour
Malaysia & Singapore - Journalism
Saya Yang Tau - SH Tan RM200
Malaysia & Singapore - Literature
Malaysia & Singapore - Malay Community & Culture
An introduction to the transformation in Malay language literature in both Indonesia and Malaya from the 19th century to the time of publication. Contents - THE NINETEENTH CENTURY; THE PERIOD 1900 - 1920: THE TWENTIES:
THE FOURTIES: THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION AND AFTER & Appendix- FOR FURTHER READING. Good Paperback First Edition. Signed by the Author. 57 pages.
Penang
Perak
Malaysia & Singapore - Peranakan/Straits Chinese
Malaysia & Singapore - Photography
Jalan Jalan: Images of Malaysia - Hans Hoefer RM120
Malaysia & Singapore - Poetry
Malaysia & Singapore - Politics
Malaysia & Singapore - Religion
Selangor
Malaysia & Singapore - Sports & Recreation
Malaysia & Singapore - World War II
The Jungle is Neutral - Spencer Chapman RM60
This is the classic story of one of the first jungle war experts of the modern era. He takes us through the period of the Japanese occupation of Malaya. Between the invasion and the fall of Singapore he was involved in behind the scenes operations to try to sabotage the Japanese advance. After Singapore fell he remained on the peninsula working with the orang asli (aborigines) and Communist guerillas to do what he could to undermine the occupation until the return of the British. Good Hardback. Abridged Edition 176 pages with four maps .
This is the classic story of one of the first jungle war experts of the modern era. He takes us through the period of the Japanese occupation of Malaya. Between the invasion and the fall of Singapore he was involved in behind the scenes operations to try to sabotage the Japanese advance. After Singapore fell he remained on the peninsula working with the orang asli (aborigines) and Communist guerillas to do what he could to undermine the occupation until the return of the British. Good Hardback. Abridged Edition 176 pages with four maps .
Asia
Bulletin of The School of Oriental and African Studies XXVIII Part 2 (1965) RM60
Articles include - KONSTANTIN TSERETELI : A type of nommal syntagm in modem Aramaic dialects; T. M. JOHNSTONE: The sound change j >y in the Arabic dialects of peninsular Arabia; W. B. HENNING: A Sogdian god; D. N. MacKENZIE : Some Goriini lyric verse: ROSE LOUISE GREAVES: British policy in Persia, 1892-1903-II; TUVIA GELBLUM: India's philosophies-whose presuppositions?; D. C. LAU: Some notes on the Sun tzu; JEROME CH'EN : The last emperor of China; DANA KALVODOVA: Clowns in the Szechuan theatre; M. HISKETT : The ' Song of Bagauda ' : a Hausa king list and homily
in verse-III . Very Good Paperback,.248 pages First Edition
Bulletin of The School of Oriental and African Studies XXVIII Part 3 (1965) RM60
Second Copy RM60
China
The complete basic course with a 334 page course book and two CDs. Unopened and Still in the publisher's shrink wrapping.
Indonesia
Japan
Xtras
