New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf
in
January 2022
(Last Updated 29-1-2022)
A book for children explaining the production and use of rubber. Fair Paperback. Unpaginated.
A book for children explaining the production and use of rubber. Good Paperback. 24 pages.
A booklet in French describing the wonders of rubber. Good Paperback. 24 pages with several black and white plates.
A children's comic book intended to convey the benefits of rubber. Good Paperback. Unpaginated.
Based on a survey of Bidayuh communities, the author seeks to analyse both the effectiveness of Government development programs and its effect on the traditional social structures of the communities served. On the incorporation of Sarawak into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, the Government extended its successful system of Development Committees to the state. The communities were expected to adapt to the new system while at the same time changing their economic activities from shifting cultivators to wet paddy, pepper and rubber. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 231 pages with various figures, tables and maps.
A reprint of two book on crime in Singapore. The Tenth Man: The Gold Bar Murder, first published in 1973 concerns the case of the murder of a gold merchant, by nine people, seven of whom were hung, two spared because of their youth. The tenth man too escaped death, but why? Murder of a Beauty Queen, first published in 1984, tells the story of the murder of a former beauty queen by her brother-in-law and lover who was sentenced to death. At the last moment a key witness retracted his testimony. Why did he lie? New Paperback. Reprint 319 pages.
A reprint of two books on crime in Singapore. The Trials of Sunny Ang, first published in 1973 concerns the case of a psychopath who selected an unsuspecting woman to marry, insured her life for the benefit of his mother and killed her without the police ever finding her body. Pulau Senang - The Experiment That Failed, first published in 1980, tells the story of an experimental prison on Pulau Senang intended to rehabilitate habitual offenders. The venture collapsed after a riot that killed three prison officers and sent 18 criminals to the gallows. New Paperback. Reprint 295 pages.
This well-illustrated book highlights the development of ikat weaving in South-East Asia so as to become one of the most exquisite textiles in the world. It also documents the lifestyle of people of Sumba and Sarawak. This 141-pages book includes chapters as such Sumba: An Island of Traditions, The Sumbanese Dress, Jewellery and references to other types of weaving, a glossary, bibliography and an index.
In this first authoritative biography of one of the pillars of Overseas Chinese society in South east Asia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ilsa Sharp clears up much of the folklore that has built up around the man. Born in Penang, he took over his late father's business interests at the age of 21 and expanded them to become one of the richest men in the region within ten years. This was mainly due to his versatility as he switched businesses and centres of operation between Hong Kong, Malaya & Singapore. New Laminated Boards 217 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
In this first full length biography of the second rajah of Sarawak, the author highlights Brooke's role in developing the administrative framework which consolidated the family's rule. Unusually for a Victorian, Charles Brooke was unconvinced of the imperative of imposing the 'benefits' of a Western civilisation on his subjects, but rather attempted to preserve traditional life more so than his compatriots elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1978. x & 253 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
This book provides an account of piracy in Malayan seas during the 18th and 19th centuries with accounts of the principal characters disrupting trade at the time. Eventually the pirates' ingenuity was no match for the might of British frigates who after a protracted struggle tamed the seas. A 292-page book including 18 picture illustrations and 5 maps. Good Paperback. Reprint.
The authors having traced the early history of the sea trade in and around Sarawak, move on to the story of the company itself. The company was by a group of Chinese traders in 1875, with Rajah Charles Brooke's encouragement, with just one ship bought from the Rajah. The fleet soon expanded as trade between Borneo and the peninsula developed and ended in the late 1960s transforming itself into the travel and tour company it is today. 166 pages with several black and white photos from the company's archives. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
A scattered collection of accounts of Sarawak history, mainly during the Brooke period. Good Paperback. First Edition. 120 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The author's account of his travels through what is now Malaysian Borneo and Brunei. The highlight of his journey was canoeing up the rapids to reach the Punans, 'the most primitive people in the world', in their forest fastness. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition 142 pages with many black and white and colour photographs.
This book recounts the entire history of three white men who ruled Sarawak in the 19th and 20th centuries: James Brooke, Charles Brooke and Vyner Brooke. Their exploits include pirate attacks, battles, extending the territory under their rule and eventually being pushed out by the Japanese. The events detail British colonialism in miniature. 189 pages which includes of photo illustrations, a bibliography and an index. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters. Good Paperback. Reprint Originally published in 1960
A collection of of old lithographs and black and white photographs covering Sarawak's social and political history between 1840 and 1920. As New Paperback. Revised Edition. First published in 1972. 105 pages
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 guide to a collection which, at the time of publication, was considered to probably be the largest of its kind. Mainly Kenyah, Kayan and Iban masks are featured in this collection. With numerous black and white photos. Very Good Paperback .111 pages.
A story about orangutans for children. Illustrated by Renee Kurilla. New Hardback. Unpaginated.
Another tale in Dalton's series of a multiracial group of boys' adventures in Malaya. This time they set off for adventures in a canoe. For early readers. 122 pages with line drawings throughout.
After completing a sociological study of rural Chinese society in Sechuan Province in China, the author sought to carry out similar research amongst a community of Chinese migrants in Malaysia. He settled on a community on the mainland of Penang state which had not been uprooted into new villages as a result of British counter insurgency measures. The resulting detailed study of a Teochiu rural community includes 233 pages of text with 21 tables, 4 maps, 6 appendices and another 5 diagrams as well 15 black and white plates. Contents include: - 1 - The Chinese in Malaya, 2 - The Village in China, 3- The Village of Treacherous River, 4 - The Teochiu Family, 5 - Religion, 6 - Associations, 7 - The Organisation of Work within the Village, 8 - Disputes, 9 - Tortoise Mountain & 10 Conclusions Very Good Hardback
Purcell, drawing on the experiences of his twenty year career in the Malayan Civil Service, including being Principal Adviser on Chinese Affairs immediately after World War II, produced the first study of the Chinese community in the country. 327 pages. The book is divided into the following parts I - Early History, II - Special Aspects of the Chinese in Malaya & III - Recent Developments, 1939-46. There is an appendix on the Baba Language, two appendices on population statistics, one on the sex ratio amongst the different races, another on Chinese clan divisions, a bibliography, index and two pages of maps including a pull out one Good Hardback in a Fair Dust Jacket First Edition.
The text is in Chinese. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket 235 pages with a bibliography and an index.
A collection of colour photographs of Malaysian birds taken by Hum Kim Choi and his wife, Ooi Poh Sim over a period of 20 years. All photographs were taken of birds in their natural habitats. Each photograph is accompanied by a description of the bird's habitat and habits. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 160 pages with an index.
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. 191 pages. Fair Hardback First Edition
The Malay Peninsula has an impressive diversity of orchids, with around 900 species and 143 genera. This book by some of the leading orchid experts in the area, covers about 50 % of these with beautiful colour photographs and chapters, inter alia, on diversity, habitats, pollination, classification and scientific research and conservation. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. Reprint. Originally published in 2011. 196 pages with an index.
The contributors highlight the interplay between urban development and the health of the environment in Malaysia. The urban geographers highlight a series of case studies on such issues to demonstrate the extent to which Malaysia has or has not been successful in maintaining a sustainable balance between the two. As New Paperback. 284 pages.
It is not well known that Bornean forests are hosts to almost 200 species of begonia, all of which are endemic. 134 of them are illustrated here together with habitat and distribution information. A complete list of all the known Borneo begonias is also provided together with an extensive bibliography.New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 2015. 304 pages
As the title suggests, the author, a senior academic in agronomy and horticulture, gives the reader a complete tour through everything one needs to know about Malaysian vegetables. Each species is illustrated in colour with their Malay, Chinese and scientific names and there are guides to both the growing, storage and cooking of the vegetables. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 222 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Katherine Sim started writing this novel when she and her husband lived for two months in a Malay village in order to prepare for their Malay language examinations just after World War II. The story follows the life of Hassan, the result of an Indian-Malay marriage, as he negotiates village life both before and after the war only to eventually find the love of his life. Sim was also a well known artist of the time, so her novel is interlaced with evocative descriptions of village life and its surrounding scenery. Good Hardback First Edition 288 pages.
A novel about Raffles' life in the Malay Archipelago that 'provides readers with insights into Raffles and his policies which they may not have known before.' Very Good Paperback in a Very Good Dust Jacket First Edition. 429 pages.
A novel set in Malaya in the early 1950s during the 'Emergency'. However the story does not dwell so much on the insurgent war going on around the characters in the fictional state of Mandore, but rather on the interaction between the characters themselves. A well reviewed study of life in the last days of the British empire. Good Hardback. Reprint 308 pages.
Set in modern-day Singapore, this novel follows the life of an English teacher who believes herself to be a simple, good and happy person and hopes to live her life accordingly. However she finds herself caught up in a disastrous marriage, a love affair that is not much better, disruption at school and a political crisis that challenge her assumptions about herself and those around her. New Paperback. First Edition. 487 pages.
There was a fashion amongst Malay readers for stories of the French adventure hero, Rocambole, known as Rokambul in Malay. They were translated from French through Arabic. This is one of several books about Rokambul's exploits. The text is in the Jawi script. Good Paperback. 100 pages.
A novel by a leading Malay author and journalist of the 1950s set in the entertainment industry. The text is in the Jawi script. Good Paperback. First Edition. 115 pages.
A Malay novel. The text is in the Jawi script. Good Paperback. First Edition 80 pages.
This novel, set in modern Singapore, has all the characteristics of a good romance, i.e. boy meets girl and they fall in love, but then something else gets in the way. In this case what gets in the way are 'traditional' Asian values complicating and questioning what chic slick young types have picked up from TV, their peers and their education. We also have the additional complications of a Singaporean finding love outside her stale marriage with a visiting US lecturer. New Paperback. Reprint 392 pages.
A facsimile reprint of the 1907 second edition revised by Walter Makepeace. Reith's original edition was published in 1892. The book was intended as a guide for the European traveller who was expected to be mainly interested in, as Paul Kratoska states in his foreword to this reprint, 'the fruits of the Public Works Department,' i.e. buildings, docks etc. There are also sections on the flora and fauna of the island as well as a brief review of the Malay language. Good Paperback. Reprint 133 pages and 25 pages of advertisements of the time, a fold out map of the island and six black and white photographs.
Pratt was a prolific Australian writer. This is version of a guide book to Malaya with a mixture of descriptions of places of interest, anecdotes and history. Good Hardback. First Edition. 278 pages with over 30 black and white plates.
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. Very Good Paperback Revised edition. 151 pages. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters.
For many years this was the standard text book on Malaysian history and could still be said to be as good a place to start as any. However, like too many books of this period, it takes history as beginning around about 1400 AD. In the preface the author puts up a bit of a weak defence as to why he didn't start this history earlier. Very Good First Edition 311 pages.. 311 pages. The contents include the following chapters - 1 - The Malay Kingdom of Malacca (AD1400-1511), 2 - The Portuguese and the Dutch in the Malacca Straits (1509-1641), 3 - The Malay Kingdom of Johore (1512-1812), 4 - Bugis Influence in the Malay States in the 18th century, 5 - The English East India Company's Settlement at Penang (1770-1805), 6 - Malacca (1795-1824) and Singapore (1819-1824), 7 - Siam, the Malay States and the Straits Settlements (1817-1863), 8 - The Malay States in the mid 19th century, 9 - British Intervention in the Malay States (1874), 10 - The British Resident System ( 1874-1895), 11 & 12 - A Survey of Social and Economic Developments (1850-1950), 13 - Political and Constitutional Changes (1895-1941), 14 - The Impact of Japan (1941-1945) & 15 The Achievement of Nationhood (1946-1959). There is also a bibliography, about 10 black and white illustrations, about 15 maps and an index.
A History of Malaysia - Barbara Watson Andaya & Leonard Y Andaya RM80
One of the standard texts on the history of Malaysia from the earliest times until the end of the 20th century. This history claims to be unique in that it tracks issues such as economics, race and politics, pointing out consistency and change, throughout the period. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1983. 350 pages with notes, maps, a glossary and an index.
A well reviewed first novel that traces the flight of the Bhonsle family from an India where they fought the British to Penang where they take part in the creation of the Federated Malay States Railways. 318 pages with a bibliography.
The book concentrates on the ten years when the states of Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Selangor were absorbed into the British Empire. Although at the time colonial officials claimed that they were 'forced' to intervene because of alleged political instability in these states, Parkinson rather sees the British intervention as part of a determined expansion of British rule east of their Indian base. 384 pages with an index and appendices.
In 1838, when he was sixteen, Osborn arrived in Malaya as a midshipman on his first tour of duty. His journal opens with an often cited description of the port of Singapore at the time, but is mainly concerned with a blockade of the state of Kedah on behalf of the Siamese, who occupied the state. (By virtue of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1826, the British considered they had a duty to support Siam against the sultan.) The bulk of the journal covers the period when he was in command of a small gunboat, manned by 40 Malays, with whom he became close. As a result, the main interest of this book is Osborn's sympathetic account of Malay life at the time. Very Good Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 1857. 360 pages with an introduction by JM Gullick and a pull out map
This is a possibly unique attempt to study the extent to which oral history differs from the published versions, whether official histories or newspapers, in Southeast Asia. As countries, newly independent within the last century, start producing their own versions of 'history', the contributors have discovered that communities throughout the region have very different versions of events. They also look at how oral history contrasts with official versions of violence and the heritage industry that has blossomed in recent years. New Paperback. 205 pages with an index.
A new account of the Singapore Mutiny of 1915 where approximately 500 Indian soldiers employed by the British caused havoc for a week, killing more than 30 people. Most previous accounts have concentrated on the events in Singapore, while the author postulates that the uprising was part of a wider conspiracy to upset British rule. New Paperback. First Edition. 377 pages with an index.
This a a popular account of the struggle for control of the moderate People's Action Party in the last days of British colonial rule in Singapore. The party had been formed by Lee Kuan Yew and colleagues, as a vehicle to lead Singapore to independence. However the party had insufficient public support and acquiesced in the entry of members of the banned Communist Party, which had a mass popular following. The ensuing battle for the party had the communists seeing themselves as a Trojan Horse, using the party to gain respectability and the founders seeing them as the Tiger which must be tamed for the party to have any chance of their policies prevailing. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1986.
A novel from a renowned Malay writer in the middle of the 20th century. The text is in the Jawi script. Good Paperback. First Edition 80 pages.
Lawlor tries to get to the bottom of a famous scandal of pre-World War I Kuala Lumpur where a Eurasian mistress murdered her British lover. The story formed the basis of Somerset Maugham's short story "The Letter" which Hollywood later made into a film starring Bette Davis. The author sets out to show how the drama typified the stifling colonial society where the Brits behaved abominably to each other and worse to the majority population whom they tried to rule and often found difficult to understand. Very Good Paperback 268 pages
A humourous collection of the idiosyncrasies of Malaysian life including slang, driving habits and much else besides. Very Good Paperback. 90 pages with line drawings by Exodus
Evidence of spin doctors at work in the State of Johor on the eve of World War II. Good Paperback. First Edition 76 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Contributors include Che Huzna Azhari, Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof, Hilary Tham, Karim Raslan, Kassim Ahmad, Kris Jitab, KS Maniam, Lee Kok Liang, Omar Mohd Noor, Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, Syed Adam Aljafri & Wong Phui Nam. 326 pages.
Stamford Raffles for many years was considered to be one of the leading European authorities on Malay culture based on his experiences and his scholarship in the Malay Archipelago. In this book the author dissects his views on religions practiced by Malays, the principal one obviously being Islam. He demonstrates how his naturally European world view, but also how his contradictory viewpoints unfairly coloured the attitudes of many of his contemporaries and successors. As New Paperback. First Edition. 107 pages with a bibliography and an index.
Winstedt, one of the foremost English scholars in Malay affairs at the end of the British colonial period, demonstrates his learning, in this very readable introduction to Malay culture, as he observed it on the peninsula, rather than in the Malay world as a whole. His broad sweep not only looks at culture in the mid-20th century, but also at its roots in Hinduism, animism and other influences prevalent before the arrival of Islam. In this 198 page book there are chapters on Origins, Migrations and Language, Beliefs and Religion, Social, Political, Legal and Economic Systems, Literature and Arts and Crafts and his predictions for the future. There is also a Bibliography. Very Good. Hardback. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
A celebration of the centenary of one of the main social hubs of the Malacca elite. After a brief introduction to the history of the city, the book describes the club's history by way of reminiscences, newspaper articles and black and white and colour photographs. 112 pages.
Following the publication of the first edition of this book, on the first centenary of the final occupation of the town by the British, the Malacca Historical Society was formed. This new edition includes several revisions as a result of the Society's investigations. There are three fold out maps, one of which is in colour. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Peletz's study examines how this matrilineal society in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan managed to survive British imperialism, modern market forces and Islamic Malay nationalism during the period of 1830 to 1980. 383 pages including notes, bibliography and index. Near Fine Paperback
An introduction to coins minted for or used in Melaka (Malacca) with examples described in the collections of The National Museums of Malaysia and Singapore and of the British Museum. With black and white photographs and a list of references.Near Fine Paperback 20 pages.
This is probably the most complete account of the healing arts of Malaysian aborigines, Orang Asli, that has been published or is likely to be published, given the declining aboriginal population on the Malaysian peninsula. There is an exhaustive account of various rituals, prayers, chants and other procedures employed by the Mah-Meri and Jah-Het communities. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 632 pages with a map and numerous figures and black and white plates
The Dutch apparently originally came up with the idea of trying to create homes away from home for expatriate colonials unable to cope with the 'unbearable' heat and various tropical maladies associated with the tropics. This fascinating book looks at how the British set up such isolating enclaves in the Malaya of their time. It is interesting to note that Penang Hill's use as a hill station predated even the more well known hill stations of India. Very Good Hardback. First Edition 84 pages. The contents include the following chapters :1 - Hill Station, 2 - Penang Hill, 3 - Interlude: The British in the Malay States, 4 - The Mainland Belvederes, 5 - Bungalows and Gardens and 6 - Social Life and Leisure. There is also a bibliography, index and several black and white and colour plates.
From the early twentieth century the George Town Municipality was particularly conscious of Penang's position as a tourist destination, issuing a range of publications informing the visitor of the island's attractions and amenities. This book is the council's comprehensive guide produced in the decade between the end of the world war and independence. Good Board Book 99 pages with a fold out map of George Town For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
If you're looking for a concise history of Penang that's not a heavy read, this may be the book. Its 173 pages contain most of the the basic facts about the island's colourful history over more than two centuries sprinkled with anecdotes collected by the penultimate British Governor of Penang, Sjovald Cunyngham-Brown, with whom Flower originally intended to write this book before Cunyngham-Brown's death. the book was published to commemorate George Town, Penang's capital, being named as a Unesco World Heritage site. The book not only records the history of the island in Part 1, but also in Part 2 looks at the main communities in Penang in separate chapters. Unusually the Eurasians get a special mention. There is also a short bibliography. Good Paperback. First Edition
A brief history of the town of Taiping in the state of Perak. The town was probably the first urban centre on the Malayan mainland, boasting the country's first library, museum, railway and European club. Very Good. Paperback First Edition. 51 pages with several black and white and colour illustrations and two pull out maps
At the time this book was published it was hailed as a novel approach to Malayan history in general and Perak history, in particular. Sullivan adopts a mixed historiographical and and anthropological approach to study the functioning of slavery and debt-bondage in the state prior to their abolition by the British in 1883. 88 pages with maps tables, appendices and a bibliography. Very Good Hardback. 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.
Often confused with Chinese, who arrived in the Malay Archipelago from the 19th century onwards, the Straits Chinese, or Peranakan, are as distinct a community as, say, Gypsies or Jews in Europe. Here the author provides an extensive history of the community's origins and their unique customs, either developed themselves or adapted from other cultures with whom they have been living for centuries. This is a reprint of the Babas Revisited , a 1993 revision by the author of his original 1980 classic. 247 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
The author passes on to the reader his mother's stories of childhood in Singapore at the beginning of the 20th century. He creates a blend of happiness during festivities, the fear of disease, and childish passions and upsets, all framed within a strict culture. New Paperback. First edition. 214 pages with some black and white plates.
Yang membuat bait-bait ini unik ialah hakikat bahawa pantun-pantun ini ditulis di Jepun, Brunei, Indonesia, Britain, Amerika Syarikat dan juga Malaysia. Sudut pengalaman yang berlainan juga menganugerahkan citra dan makna yang baharu. Dalam cara begini pantun dijadikan wadah pengalaman antarabangsanya. New Paperback First Edition.
A Baba Wedding - Cheo Kim Ban RM120
The Babas and Nyonyas, or Straits Chinese, are the descendants of early Chinese immigrants and their Malay host community. In the course of time their culture has evolved into a heritage distinct from their Chinese and Malay compatriots in Malaysia and Singapore. One of the central features of this culture was the wedding which used to take place over several days, but now occasionally takes place in an abbreviated form. This book is the result of of oral and written research by the author so as to reconstruct such weddings through informed text and colour illustrations. New Paperback Reprint 110 pages.
Lim Kit Siang is the grand old man of the opposition in Malaysia, having held senior positions in the Democratic Action Party since 1966 and been Opposition Leader of Malaysia three times. Here a leading Malaysian author and playwright undertakes the complex task of explaining what makes the veteran tick, through interviews with friends, foes and the man himself. Although Lim Kit Siang co-operated with the biography, he did not want and was not asked to approve it. This volume follows his life up to 1987. New Paperback. First Edition. 399 pages with several black and white and colour photographs.
The Japanese issued very few stamps of their own during their occupation of Malaya, but instead used British stamps which they overprinted in various ways. This booklet lists the various over prints with illustrations and has black and white photographs of the stamps issued. Good Paperback. 20 pages.
A book describing religious services and instruction by radio. The text is in Jawi. Good Paperback. First Edition. 103 pages with some black and white plates.
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 Japanese 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. New Paperback. Reprint 176 pages.
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 in a Good Dust Jacket 378 pages with black and white plates and six maps.
The troubled history of the last few years of Malaya as a colony, both of the British and Japanese and the first few years of independence are reflected in the biography of John Davis. As a member of the Police Special Branch, he escaped from Singapore on the Japanese arrival and, after 35 days in a fishing boat, arrived in Ceylon where he prepared for his return as an operative behind enemy lines. He worked closely with Chin Peng, who has written an afterword, and Spencer Chapman. After the war he stayed on to face Chin Peng during the 'Emergency' where, amongst other things, he was involved in abortive peace talks with Chin Peng in 1955. 386 pages.
A book dedicated to the ships that plied between India and China carrying opium which was the backbone of the finances of British India and the ruin of China. The book not only contains accounts of various journeys, but also technical information about the ships themselves. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint. Originally published in 1933. 392 with many illustrations, maps and an index.
This is an account of the travels of the author and her husband through Southeast Asia on the eve of the Second World War, which would eventually usher out the European colonial powers to be replaced by a variety of independent nations and the further turmoil of the Cold War. The travellers avoided tourist offices and visited areas where not many from the Western World had visited and came home enriched by the welcome and charm of their various hosts along the way. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 320 pages with an index and various black and white plates.
This book is a welcome antidote to those who only associate political Islam with violence. The author demonstrates how Muslim communities have and can make improvements to their lives by working through established government channels. Looking in detail at strategies adopted in Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey, she demonstrates that peaceful Islamic action for change is possible - and effective. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 2009. 250 pages with figures, tables, a bibliography and an index.
An unusual field guide in that it categories plants into what you see rather than into technical groups. Plants are listed by the type of flower and foliage within more general categories of tress, shrubs, vines and ground covers and bedding plants. Apart from over 300 colour illustrations, there is information on each plant's scientific name, its vernacular name in English, Bahasa Indonesia and Melayu, Filipino and dialects, Thai and Vietnamese and other important details. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 2000. 280 pages with a bibliography and an index.
A former shipmaster in the China seas takes a seaman's view of pirate activity in the east with a nod to their navigational skills. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 263 pages with an index and some black and white plates.
This book is the result of three decades of nocturnal research into the habits of the vampire moth or Calyptra, members of less than ten of the 180,000 species of Lepidoptera which have developed blood sucking habits. The author describes the method extracting blood, illustrated with photographs and illustrations, the species' distribution, behaviour, ecology, phenology, and physiology as well as the types of victim that they choose. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket.
This book contains two accounts of British officers involved in the beginnings of British attempts to extend their influence from India into Burma. The book starts with a 46 page Private Journal of Arthur Phayre, a political officer involved in negotiations with King Mindon Min after the British annexation of the province of Pegu. The main part of the book consists of a more detailed account of the mission by Henry Yule, an engineer, Phayre's junior. Yule is more concerned with what he observed of the Burmese Government and people including the history of the country, the functions of Government, religion and geography. 389 pages with over 30 plates and maps including a pull out map attached to the inside back cover. Good Hardback.
The period covered by this book saw a massive emigration of Chinese citizens to other parts of the world, mainly Southeast Asia. Until the publication of this book very little had been written in English about the Ch'ing Government's policies towards these new Chinese settlements. Based on documentation gathered from Asia, England, Australia and North America, the author fleshes out the changes of home government policy and how it affected the new immigrants. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 413 pages with a bibliography and an index.
A popular history of the East India Company from its origins to 1820. Good Hardback. Reprint. Originally published in 1991. 475 pages with 7 maps, about a dozen black and white plates, a bibliography and an index.
Although the author claims that this book is an 'introduction' to this iconic weapon of the Malay world, it is probably one of the most comprehensive books on the subject in English. He covers details such as the origins, manufacture, decorations and the different types of weapon to be found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Although the weapon has considerable significance in Malay culture, the author, like others, confirms it was not a very effective fighting weapon. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition. 95 pages with many black and white and colour illustrations
This novel, originally published in Dutch in the 1930s, caused a scandal at the time as it sought to lay bare the way Dutch platers treated their labour. The author follows the tragic life of 'Ruki' as he tries to cope with his harsh and irrelevant life. Good Paperback. Reprint. 216 pages.
The guide, besides containing information about the exhibitors has information on tourism in Java, steamship companies and railways as well as many contemporary advertisements Good Paperback 80 pages with an index and two colour fold out maps, one of Batavia and the other of Java.
A guide to the history and peoples of the Netherlands East Indies, now Indonesia, written by an Australian travel writer. As the significance of the Far East came into prominence in the middle of the Second World War the book was intended to introduce its readers to an area of 'over fifty swarming millions - whose importance to the Western World was never so evident as today.' Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint. Originally published in 1942. 329 pages with a bibliography
This novel, originally published in Dutch in the 1930s, caused a scandal at the time as it sought to lay bare the way Dutch platers treated their labour. The author follows the tragic life of 'Ruki' as he tries to co
pe with his harsh and irrelevant life. Good Paperback. Reprint. 216 pages. De Choisy was a larger than life character described by the translator as a libertine, transvestite, courtier, diplomat and academician.' This journal is a lively account of his membership of a French embassy to Thailand with the ostensible purpose of converting King Narai to Catholicism. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition. Originally published in 1687 305 pages with a bibliography and several contemporary illustrations.
Collis tells the fascinating story of a Briton, Samuel White, who found his way to Siam in the 17th century. He initially arrived there as an employee of the British East India Company, but resigned from their service to become a Siamese Government official and later a pirate. Good Hardback in a Fair Dust Jacket 312 pages. with an index and a pull out map.
This well reviewed novel set in the Thai countryside concerns peasant communities' struggles against politicians and landlords. The book has been particularly praised for giving an accurate reflection of the difficulties rural Thai life and the beauty of the surroundings. 206 pages.
A collection of three of the award winning Thai novelist's better known works - Sing to Dawn, Rice Without Rain and The Clay Marble - New Paperback 399 pages.
This book was originally published in Jawi in about 1950 and was almost immediately banned in Malaysia and Thailand. The book traces the glorious days of a sultanate, that lasted almost a thousand years, and also follows its decline before the state was transferred to Thai authority at the beginning of the 20th century in exchange for Thailand abandoning its claims to Kedah and Kelantan. The book has been translated into English by Conner Bailey and John Miksic. Near Paperback. Reprint. 90 pages with two maps and references.
The award-winning novelist's about the the attempts of Dawan, a Thai village girl, to gain an education for herself in a patriarchal society. This book was awarded first prize from the Council of Interracial Books for Children, New York. New Paperback. Reprint. 125 pages with line drawings.
The award-winning novelist's about the 12 year old Dara's quest to find her family after being separated from them as a result of the Cambodian civil war and subsequent upheavals. This is the author's third novel. New Paperback. Reprint. 174 pages.
This book was originally published in Jawi in about 1950 and was almost immediately banned in Malaysia and Thailand. The book traces the glorious days of a sultanate, that lasted almost a thousand years, and also follows its decline before the state was transferred to Thai authority at the beginning of the 20th century in exchange for Thailand abandoning its claims to Kedah and Kelantan. The book has been translated into English by Conner Bailey and John Miksic. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. 115 pages with two maps and references.
A sales booklet promoting guayule rubber, mainly produced in Mexico and along the US/Mexico border. The rubber is produced from a shrub rather than a tree. which produces para rubber, more commonly found in the Malay Archipelago. Good Paperback. 31 pages with several black and white photographs
- 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
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Malaysia & Singapore - Anthropology & Sociology
Malaysia & Singapore - Armed Forces & Policing
Malaysia & Singapore - Arts & Crafts
Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs
Malaysia & Singapore - Boat, Fishing & The Sea
The authors having traced the early history of the sea trade in and around Sarawak, move on to the story of the company itself. The company was by a group of Chinese traders in 1875, with Rajah Charles Brooke's encouragement, with just one ship bought from the Rajah. The fleet soon expanded as trade between Borneo and the peninsula developed and ended in the late 1960s transforming itself into the travel and tour company it is today. 166 pages with several black and white photos from the company's archives. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Borneo
Malaysia & Singapore - Children
Malay Canoe RM80
Malaysia & Singapore - Chinese Community & Culture
Malaysia & Singapore - Environment, Nature & Wildlife
Urban Ecosystem Studies in Malaysia; A Study of Change - Noorazulan Md Hashim & Rusian Rainis (eds) RM80
Malaysia & Singapore - Fiction
A Malay novel in the Jawi script. Fair Paperback. First Edition. 109 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Geography & Guide Books
Malaysia & Singapore - History
A History of Malaysia - Barbara Watson Andaya & Leonard Y Andaya RM80
Malaysia & Singapore - History (19th Century)
Malaysia & Singapore - History (20th Century)
Malaysia & Singapore - Humour
Johor
Malaysia & Singapore - Literature
Malaysia & Singapore - Malay Community & Culture
Melaka
Negeri Sembilan
A Share of the Harvest - Michael Gates Peletz RM120
Malaysia & Singapore - Numismatics
Orang Asli/Indegenious Peoples
Bomoh-Poyang: Traditional Medicine and Ceremonial Art of the Aborigines of Malaysia - Roland Werner RM400
Penang
Perak
Old Taiping - Alex Teoh RM150
Malaysia & Singapore - Peranakan/Straits Chinese
The Babas - Felix Chia RM130
A Baba Wedding - Cheo Kim Ban RM120
Malaysia & Singapore - Politics
Lim Kit Siang: Malaysian First: Volume One – None But the Bold - Kee Thuan Chye RM120Malaysia & Singapore - Postal History
Postage Stamps Issued During the Japanese Occupation, March 1942 - August 1945 - Malayan Stamp Company RM200Malaysia & Singapore - Religion
Malaysia & Singapore - World War II
Asia
Pepper, Rice and Elephants: A Southeast Asian Journey from Celebes to Siam - Ruth Masters Rickover RM120
Burma/Myanmar
China
India
Indonesia
This is the story of the merchantmen, based in Salem, USA, and their development of the pepper trade with Acheen in Northwest Sumatra in the early years of the US republic. In doing so, they drew accurate harts of the coasts and reefs and gave the United States a prominent place in the pepper trade for the first time. Good Hardback. First Edition. 141 pages with some black and white plates.
This book mainly concentrates on the interrelationship between the fall of the Sumatran Malay empire of Srivijaya and the founding of the sultanate of Melaka. Basing his research mainly on Chinese sources and the beginning chapters of the Malay Annals, the author seeks to piece together the turbulent history that led up to the sultanate's foundation, with Chinese maritime activity in the area as a backdrop. Good Hardback. First Edition. 274 pages.
Thailand
pe with his harsh and irrelevant life. Good Paperback. Reprint. 216 pages. De Choisy was a larger than life character described by the translator as a libertine, transvestite, courtier, diplomat and academician.' This journal is a lively account of his membership of a French embassy to Thailand with the ostensible purpose of converting King Narai to Catholicism. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition. Originally published in 1687 305 pages with a bibliography and several contemporary illustrations.
Xtras
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