New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf
in
August 2022
(Last Updated 28-8-2022)
- 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.
- 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 orders under 2 kg to Singapore.
Malaysia & Singapore - Architecture
A Penang born architect, having spent three decades lecturing at the National University of Singapore's School of Architecture, in this book presents his working life's work, i.e. a detailed study of the domestic architecture of the wealthy during the heyday of its colonial period. His informed text is supported by a wealth of current and historic photographs and building plans. New Hardback in a New Jacket. First Edition 186 pages Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
The traditional Malay timber house is fast disappearing as a wave of brick and concrete replacements usurp their central place in villages through out the country. This book describes how three wood technologists 'rescued' several of such houses to move them to the Malay Kampong House Museum at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. By documenting the process the authors hoped to provide a manual for both the conservation of such houses in situ and for those who want to undertake the task of moving such houses elsewhere. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 103 pages with numerous colour illustrations and line drawings.
A review of the conservation of historic buildings in Malaysia. The work looks at particular case studies, highlighting the care that needs to be taken with both materials and architectural styles. The authors also give examples of organisations involved in such work and the legislation affecting conservation in the country. New Paperback. First edition. 176 pages with a bibliography, index and several black and white plates.
Malaysia & Singapore - Arts & Crafts
Although Sheppard was principally a colonial civil servant with responsibilities in public relations, he will probably be best remembered for his contribution to the conservation of and research into traditional Malaysian culture. This book is focused on ten traditional crafts and the crafts men and women responsible for producing such artifacts. 118 pages with many black and white photographs. Very Good First Edition Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs
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.
The Russell family originally came to Malaya in the 19th century as entrepreneurs and, unlike most of their contemporaries, they remained in the newly independent Malaysia, managing their businesses, particularly the BOH tea plantations, the largest tea producers in the country today. This book tells the story of Richard Dearie, who established businesses in the United Kingdom and the United States, and of his son Jack Russell and his descendants in Malaysia. New Paperback First Edition. 411 pages with an index and numerous black and white photographs.
The famous British naturalist's amusing and exciting account of his six month journey through Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand while both making a BBC wildlife documentary and encouraging conservation efforts. Good Paperback. Reprint. 220 pages.
The autobiography of a pioneering educator and politician in Singapore and Malaya. He was a principal of the Anglo Chinese School in Singapore and involved with the formation of the University of Malaya as well as Singapore’s first polytechnic. While doing this he was also active in Singapore's political life in the run up to independence and acted as a broker in negotiations between Chinese and Malay parties that led to Malaya's independence. Good Paperback. First Edition 119 pages plus an appendix.
This is the story of Jim Hislop, the last European Chief Game Warden of Malaya. He knew the jungle both as a conservator of nature and wildlife and as a killer of men and women. His jungle skills were used by the British Government firstly in undermining the Japanese during World War II and then challenging the Communists in the Malayan 'Emergency' where the jungle provided the insurgents with many a safe haven. The book also recalls the thrills and dangers of the Malayan jungle in the mid 20th century. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket 271 pages with a few maps and black and white plates.
The autobiography of one of Singapore's most decorated sailors. He traces his time from joining as a cadet through to retirement recounting jostling with pirates, romantic escapades, the many different types of people who take to the sea and much more. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. Signed by the Author 400 pages with several black and white photographs.
The memoirs of a well known educationalist during the British period in Malaya. He joined the Education Service at the Penang Free School shortly before World War II, survived internment under the Japanese and continued to make an impact on the country's education until independence in 1957. Very Good. Paperback. First Edition 238 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
This book, first published in1853, is possibly one of the first tourist accounts of the region. Kinloch was not out to explore, trade or colonise. He was simply on a recuperative trip after an illness. He had a sharp eye and an occasional witty turn of phrase. 139 pages with 23 colour plates and a map.
An account of the first twenty years of the author's life from growing up in Kedah with a British father and Tamil mother to studying in Raffles College Singapore, where he was when Japan took the city. After the war Baker was both an academic and a distinguished Singaporean diplomat. Very Good Paperback. Reprint 130 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Boats, 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.
Following on from Allen's 1951 report on the major ports of the country, he now tackles the gaggle of the remaining ports to determine their condition following the end of World War II. As the introduction states 'not one of them has any pretensions to importance as a port,' yet, in a country with so much shoreline, they play an important role in the country's economy. The author was the UK Ministry of Transport Representative in the Far East. Good Hardback First Edition 174 pages. with several black and white plates
Borneo
A collection of photographs of documents and ephemera from the Brooke era until the end of World War II. Most of the documents are in either Chinese or English. Each photograph has accompanying text in Chinese and English. 87 pages.
Unlike in most other parts of Malaysia, evidence has been found in Sarawak of cultures that have been in existence for more than two thousand years. In this book the long serving curator of the Sarawak Museum provides the reader with an authoritative and illustrated overview of that culture right up to the present day. 105 pages. As New Paperback .
A collection of papers from a conference of the Borneo Research Council held in Kuching, Malaysia in 1990. Topics include oral history, language and education. Very Good Paperback First Edition.
This book is the result of two years of field research conducted by the author between 1986 and 1991. After explaining the historical background and ritual and social functions of the textile creations, she explains various patterns from the past and the present day. Near Fine Paperback. 100 pages with maps, various black and white and colour photographs and a list of references.
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 years 1946-1960, when the state, which became a British colony after the departure of the Japanese at the end of the war, went though the beginnings of its transformation following Brooke rule . The text is accompanied by numerous black and white photographs. Near Fine Paperback First Edition. 162 pages.
Sarawak only became a colony of the British Government in the immediate aftermath of World War II, when the last Brooke rajah ceded power, Abell was the third British Governor of the colony following the assassination of his predecessor. This book through archive photographs and local newspaper cuttings tell how Abell restored calm, oversaw the development the Brookes had neglected and worked with nascent politicians to plot the colony's future. Very Good paperback. First Edition168 pages.
This entertaining account gives us an insight as to what a group of Englishmen get up to in their early 20s amongst Kayans, Punans and other tribes in the Borneo jungle. They also managed to undertake some scientific work on behalf of The Oxford Exploration Club. 254 pages including appendices and index. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback. Reprint
The inspiring story of John Wilson, a Scotsman who took up a government teaching post in Sarawak in 1949. He gave it up three years later, fed up with methods that imposed an alien way of life on the Iban. Instead he took himself into the jungle, to Budu a remote settlement, where he experimented with an education that prepared the tribal community for a different world, but used their culture as a framework. This readable book recounts his story and how a community was transformed on its own terms. Very Good Paperback 239 pages
Based on archival records as well as oral histories, this book reconstructs the pioneering history of the early Chinese settlers in Sarawak. While much scholarship has focused on urban Chinese settlements, Chew tells the story of the Chinese who moved to the rural areas--those who traded with the Ibans and other tribes, or were recruited to work in the coal mines and oil fields. Fine Hardback 281 pages
Howell was born in Sarawak and was a missionary there in adult life. These notes were found amongst his papers at his death. They briefly touch on Sarawak's general history and peoples, but are mostly concerned with Christian missionary history. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 75 pages with a map and some black and white plates.
An account of the dramatic Sabah state elections of 1985 that was won by the Parti Bersatu Sabah, at the time only 47 days old. The author carried out extensive research of documents and through interviews to paint a dramatic picture of the troubled politics of the state. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 212 pages with a map and some black and white photographs
Malaysia & Singapore - Business Economics & Labour
An interesting overview of the development of the economy of Malaysia and Singapore on the eve of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Amidst the papers from economists, the noted historian, Emily Sadka, has contributed a pithy and scholarly assessment of the politics of the time. 306 pages. Good Hardback First Edition
Gomez, one of Malaysia's leading economists, undertook this study of the country's eight largest Chinese run publicly listed companies in order to determine the extent to which a common ethnicity shaped both practice and co-operation. Despite, at least, public criticism of the dominance of Chinese business by the Government party, UMNO, Gomez did not find his subjects either defensive or operating as a clique. He speculates that the situation may be different among more vulnerable small and medium enterprises in the country and suggests this as a topic for future research. Very Good Paperback 234 pages with figures, tables, a list of references and an index. Near Fine Paperback
Malaysia & Singapore - Children
One in a series of children's adventure stories featuring a multi racial group of boys and their escapades in Malaya. In this tale Kitchie escapes from his Uncle Hassan's home to find his friends, from whom he has been parted. 120 pages. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint. Originally published in 1961
Malaysia & Singapore - Chinese Community & Culture
Although most Chinese came to Southeast Asia (Nanyang) in the 19th and 20th centuries, the author takes the reader back a few centuries when Chinese traders had already established small outposts on the Borneo coasts. These settlements were followed by larger spurts of immigration during the Brooke period. The white rajahs had to put up with a rebellion or two, but the Chinese community eventually settled down to play a major part in the state's development. Finally the author details the experiences of the community during the Japanese occupation and the community's first venture into democratic politics in the run up to independence. 158 pages with appendices, a bibliography and an index.
Malaysia & Singapore - Cinema, Dance, Drama & Music
A play by one of Singapore's best known playwrights based on interviews with his fellow citizens both before and after the 'watershed' general election of 1991. The elections were considered significant, in the small space allowed for democracy in Singapore, because, inter alia, more seats were contested than in the past and there was a swing against the ruling People's Action Party giving the party its lowest share of the vote since independence. New Paperback. First Edition. 147 pages
This is a selection of eight plays from the more than thirty that Ovidia Yu has written. Many focus on women's experiences of Singapore life. The collection includes The Woman in a Tree on the Hill which won an award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Very Good Paperback. 380 pages
An analysis of traditional Malay musical instruments and song. Near Fine Paperback. 80 pages with some black and white photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore - Constitution, Laws & Legal System
A collection of speeches and articles by the author a leading consumer activist both inside and outside Malaysia on the importance and effectiveness of consumer movements. Very Good Paperback. 180 pages with some line drawings.
Malaysia & Singapore - Cooking & Foods
A combined effort by the Kuching Hilton and the Pepper Marketing Board to promote Sarawak pepper through a selection of Asian and Western recipes. Very Good Paperback 81 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Education
The authors, both professional teacher trainers, take the reader through the methodology of reflective practice in quite a realistic manner. Not only do they highlight the success of this practice in their experience, but also the pitfalls. The result is a balanced practical manual that could be of use to teacher trainers everywhere. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. 214 pages with an index
Malaysia & Singapore - The 'Emergency'
Miller, who was a journalist in Malaya at the time, was one of the more prolific chroniclers of the Malayan 'Emergency.' This book was published when the 'menace' was still alive and troublesome and traces the fortunes of the Malayan Communist Party from its founding through to Templer's successful efforts to bring the insurgents to heel.Very Good Hardback. in a Good Dust Jacket First Edition 248 pages with some black and white photographs. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - Environment, Nature & Wildlife
The author is a journalist, but also a keen gardener. Each chapter of the book is devoted to one of the plants that have featured in her gardens in Beijing, Kunming and Singapore. With colour illustrations by Bee KC Tan. 164 pages with an index. New Hardback. First Edition.
This guide contains details of all the known species in the Malaysian/Thailand peninsula when the book was originally issued in 1951. Not only does it contain simple identification help in the text but also coloured plates of most of the species and line drawings of the remainder. 291 pages. Good Paperback Reprint Originally published in 1951
A guide to one of Sabah's lesser known national parks, although it has enjoyed protected status for more than half a century. Most visitors do not stray far from the facilities around the main entrance. This book is designed to tempt the visitor to explore further into the park's interior where there are three substations with a series of nature trails fanning out from them. The book has sections on birds, mammals, mammals, amphibians & reptiles and the flora to be found in the park. New Paperback. 156 pages.
A monograph on the Phalaenopsis species of orchid by one of Japan's leading orchid enthusiasts. Each plant has brief descriptive information, information about its distribution and usually at least a couple of colour photographs. The book is bilingual in Japanese and English. Near Fine Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket.
Slipper Orchids of Borneo - Phillip Cribb 160 pages Very Good Paperback Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
An extensive introduction to phasmids to be found on the Malaysian peninsula and in Singapore.222 pages with a catalogue of phasmids identifies, details of phasmids' food plants, an index of scientific names, 18 pages of black and white colour plates and numerous line drawings throughout the text. Fine Paperback. First Edition.
As a result of his own travels in Indonesia and Malaysia and with the help of primatologists, conservationists and others, Thompson, a journalist, provides a lively account of this fascinating species. He not only describes orangutans' daily life but their emotional and intellectual processes. Good Paperback. 292 pages with colour plates and an index.
The results of a survey of the Perlis State park with sections on the park's management, the physical environment, fauna, flora and the public benefit of the park. The text is in Bahasa Malaysia and English. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 407 pages with some maps and tables.
A pocket size guide to 222 species and subspecies of reptiles to be found in the area. The guide has been compiled by four experienced herpetologists describing key identifying features and distribution of the species. There is also information on first aid treatment of snake bites. Very Good Paperback 144 pages with an index and 290 colour photographs.
A check list for forest service field officers and others, giving both Dipterocarp and Non-Dipterocarp trees' scientific , timber trade and vernacular names and where they are likely to be found in the country. Very Good Hardback. Third Revision. 307 pages with an index of scientific names, colour plates and line drawings
A compilation of data on birds spotted by the author and others in Penang state from 1970 onwards. Very Good Paperback. 48 pages with two maps of the island and mainland marking birding areas.
A checklist with a list of references. 42 pages. Near Fine Paperback.
A pictorial guide to 114 waterfalls to be found in Malaysia together with maps and many colour photographs. Very Good Hardback . First Edition. 181 pages.
An attractive booklet produced by the council highlighting the medicinal uses of some plants to be found in Malaysia's rainforests. Near Fine Paperback. 25 pages with fine colour illustrations on each page.
An extract from the Geological Society Journal Vol. LXX detailing the results of survey work by the author, Geologist to the Government of the Federated May States, on this mountain on the Pahang/Selangor border. 18 pages plus 2 pages of black and white plates. Fair Paperback.
The Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary, covering approximately 60 square kilometres, has been a protected area since 1979. . This book, edited by a trio of recognised academics from the university, is the result of an expedition from 2019-2020 of university staff to the area. There are sections on the sanctuary's history and crabs, insect, fishes, amphibians & reptiles, terrapins, birds, mammals natural resource uses and eco tourism. New Paperback. First Edition 120 pages with a wealth of colour photographs and maps
The Tanjung Datu National Park, on the Western tip of Sarawak, is one of the more remote and lesser explored national parks in the state. .This book, edited by a trio of recognised academics from the university, is the result of an expedition in 2014 of university staff to the area. There are sections on the park's history and geography as well as further sections on the park's botany, invertebrates, herpetology. birds and mammals and human use of its natural resources and eco tourism New Paperback. First Edition 126 pages with a wealth of colour photographs and maps.
The Santubong Peninsula, near Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is one of the more accessible areas of biodiversity in the state. .This book, edited by a trio of recognised academics from the university, is the result of various expeditions between 2014 and 2018 of university staff to the area. There are sections on the park's history, its botan and zoology as well as on human use of its natural resources and eco tourism New Paperback. First Edition 168 pages with a wealth of colour photographs and maps.
A collection of papers looking at a range of issues affecting land use in Malaysia. Topics covered include alimentation of land, land use, developmental impacts on the environment, food security, Malay reserve and wakf land, community land rights and the rights of tenants and squatters. New Paperback. 275 pages.
This handy pocket size book should enable the wandering Sarawak visitor to identify the various types of this beautiful plant. Each species is photographed beautifully with a detailed explanation about the plant. This guide contains 81 pages in total with a suggested further reading list.
A pocket handbook to 252 bird species to be found on the island of Borneo. Very Good Paperback. 144 pages with a bibliography, index and many colour photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore – Fiction
The publisher's blurb claims this to be the "first-ever compendium of erotic writing from Singapore." It's certainly proved popular as it's now in its third edition since originally being published in 2006. It contains not only a good selection of fiction, but poetry and narrative prose as well conjuring up erotic imaginings and episodes from real life from twenty-seven contributors. Very Good Paperback. Third Edition 264pages.
This is the first novel of one of Singapore's preeminent novelists. It follows the ups and downs of Vincent Tan, a yuppie on the make, who thinks he has life sorted amidst the hustle and bustle of Singapore until he runs into a few problems. 155 pages. New Paperback. Reprint.
The first collection of short stories by a former lecturer in English Literature at the University of Malaya. Good Paperback. First Edition. 149 pages.
This novel introduces us to the romantic escapades of Holden Heng, while also providing a social commentary on Singapore in the 1980s. New paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1986. 202 pages.
A collection of 16 new Malaysian tales of the supernatural. Very Good Paperback. 287 pages.
A fictional account of an ageing expatriate's quest to write a biography of Alexander Hare, the friend of Stamford Raffles, who established a harem for himself on the Cocos Keeling Islands. As the story proceeds the lives of the budding author and his subject become more intertwined. New Paperback, First Edition. 222 pages.
This novel is part of Shelley's fiction quartet based on the life of Singaporean Eurasians. Although Shelley started writing late in life he speedily pciked up literary awards for his works. This novel, which won the Singapore Literary Prize, is set in the post World War II era where the protagonist is an informer for the British on the communist underground movement and then becomes involved in an exciting and tempestuous romance. 400 pages
This is the first novel of a distinguished Singaporean public servant and academic who also had already made his mark with published short stories and poems. He draws on his life experience to follow a retired public figure who retires, migrates, returns and becomes involved in public life again. In doing so he discovers both the joys and drawbacks of being a Singaporean. 218 pages. Very Good Paperback
A highly popular and the best known novel about the Japanese occupation written by a Malayan. Chin was a teacher in Perak both before and after the occupation, but refused to teach in Japanese schools, giving him ample opportunity to observe both the occupiers, the occupied and the resistance. 254 pages. Good Hardback. First Edition
A translation into English of a Malay language prize winning novel tracing the challenges faced by a traditional village story teller as he tries to cope with a changing world. 166 pages. Very Good Paperback
In a country with at least 80 languages and nearly 200 different ethnic groups, this collection of short stories seeks to highlight Malaysia's unity in diversity through common themes in the literature of some of these groups. They have been selected by one of Malaysia's leading poets. 260 pages. Very Good Paperback
A collection of short stories by an award winning author, playwright and poet depicting Malay life in modern Singapore. Through a mixture of humour, nostalgia and pathos the characters adapt to the glitz and 'progress' that both energises and troubles their lives. 228 pages.
A collection of short stories published before the Second World War. Good Paperback. 265 pages.
A collection of short stories. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 242 pages.
An issue of the Hawaii literary magazine, Manoa, devoted to Singapore writing. Including 14 short stories, 12 poems and four memoirs. 226 pages.
A collection of fifty 'flash fiction' short stories touching on a wide range of emotions and experiences from this award winning author. New Paperback. First edition. 197 pages.
A romantic novel about a love triangle between a woman and two brothers as they sailed to Singapore. This forgotten novel had the distinction of being made into a silent Hollywood film twice. n 1923 and 1928 (with Joan Crawford), and remade again in 1953 as All the Brothers Were Valiant Fair Hardback. Reprint.
Malaysia & Singapore - Folklore
A retelling of animal folk tales which are part of the tradition on various orang asli tribes, the indigenous peoples of the Malaysian peninsula. The stories are not only entertaining, but also often have moral messages and give the reader into the narrator's unique culture. The Text is in Malay New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1984. 240 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Geography & Guide Books
A photographic guide to Kuala Lumpur with some history and information on tours and Travel tips. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 93 pages with an index, maps and many colour photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore - Health & Medicine
A collection of essays, accompanied by photographs, on the wide variety of healing methods used throughout the world. Fine Hardback in a Fine Dust Jacket. 229 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - History
A history of 35 royal, port, mining, administrative, railway and hill station towns of Malaya supported by nearly 300 maps, engravings and archival photographs. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. 176 pages with a bibliography and an index.
Malaysia & Singapore - History (18th Century)
The papers cover excavations in Kedah and Takuapa in Thailand, comparisons between the finds in both areas and the significance of the tiger symbol in representing Avalokitesvara in Southeast Asia. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. This is Volume VI New Series of the Federation Museums Journal. 90 pages with an additional 116 black and white plates, 2 colour plates, a pull out floor plan, line drawings and maps.
Malaysia & Singapore - History (19th Century)
Written while Swettenham was the British Resident attached to the state of Perak, these vignettes, as he says in his preface, are 'an attempt to awaken an interest in an almost undescribed but deeply interesting people, dwellers in one of the most beautiful and least known countries in the East.' A collection of literary snapshots with 'no statistics, no history, no geography, no science, no moralising, no prophecy' that is intended to give the reader a feel for Malaya at the end of the 19th century. First published in 1895 Very Good Paperback Reprint 289 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - History (20th Century)
Ever since the British East India Company established themselves in Singapore at the beginning of the 19th century, the island has played host to diasporas from elsewhere in Asia and beyond. It was therefore almost to be expected that these communities would often take an active interest in the political upheavals that were taking place in their countries of origin in the 20th century. In this unusual study, Professor Gunn highlights the roles these communities played in nationalist and communist movements in China and elsewhere, Islamic movements in the region, Indian nationalism during the Japanese occupation and the island's role in the Indonesian revolution. New Paperback. First Edition. 308 pages with an index.
A month by month account of the formation of the new state of Malaysia and how its arrival was received in the region. Good Hardback. Reprint. 247 pages with an index.
British rule in Malaya reached its zenith in the 1930s and started crumbling the moment the Japanese invasion began. For although the British returned to the country at the end of the war, the Japanese occupation had not only demonstrated British weakness but inspired Malayans to look for an alternative - independence. Cooper, who lived and worked in the country for 40 years after independence unpicks the events that led to the crucial turning point in the country's history. Very Good Paperback. 623 pages with some black and white photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore - Indian Community & Culture
The experiences of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia are not uniform. The authors seek to highlight this variety of experience and diasporic writers' reactions to them as expressed in works of English by Malaysian Indian authors. New Paperback. First Edition. 129 pages with a list of references and an index.
Malaysia & Singapore - Language & Linguistics
Whereas previous introductions to Malay prose normally concentrated on folklore, Winstedt seeks to break from that tradition by including 'modern and realistic topics' such as geography war and science. The exercises increase in difficulty throughout the book. Very Good Hardback. 79 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Literature
In celebration of Singapore's 50th jubilee, 50 Singaporean writers in Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil were commissioned to write new works of fiction, drama, and poetry. This book, highlighting the city state's multiculturalism and unity is the result. All the authors have been previous winners of either Singapore's Cultural Medallion or Young Artist Award. 332 & 304 pages. New Paperbacks in a slipcase. First Edition.
A dictionary of Malaysia's rich treasury of ghosts, demons and anything else that has a reputation to instill horror. The text is in Bahasa Malaysia. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 115 pages with a bibliography.
An analysis of the history and structure of Malay Literature. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 189 pages with a bibliography.
Malaysia & Singapore – Malay Community & Culture
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. Good Paperback. First Edition 468 pages Please see scanned contents pages for further details
Although he dabbled in politics briefly, the author's principal career was as a civil servant in Sarawak, rising to the position of State Secretary. In this book he analyses the characteristics of Malay thinking that enriched development and politics in Sarawak as well those aspects of the Malay mentality that stunted growth and ensured continuing poverty. Fine Paperback. First Edition.
Although he dabbled in politics briefly, the author's principal career was as a civil servant in Sarawak, rising to the position of State Secretary. At the time of writing the author despaired about the future of Malay politics in Sarawak for reasons set out in the book. The second part of the book looks at the history and significance of Perabangan, a Malay semi-aristocratic class, peculiar to Sarawak. Fine Paperback. First Edition.
The author maintains that Malay humour is unique, particularly that of the Sarawak Malays. He seeks to show this through a 'semi-academic' analysis as well as by giving numerous examples of laughter jokes, gossip and humourous tales. He also includes sections on latah and pondan Fine Paperback. First Edition.
One of the first detailed studies in English of this traditional Malay weapon. This is a reprint of Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society XXIX Part 4, December 1956. 98 pages with six line drawings of a selection of different types of weapons. Please see the scan of the contents for further details.
A review of the growth of Malay nationalism and how, according to the author, it has played out since independence. As the author is a Christian clergyman a portion of the book is devoted to the interaction between Islam and Christianity within Malaysia. Very Good Paperback. 296 pages with maps, tables and a bibliography.
Malaysia & Singapore - Media & Journalism
Seow, both a one time Solicitor-General of Singapore and political prisoner there, gives the reader an informed and detailed account of how he believes the Singapore Government set out to turn not only the country's press, but the international press as well, into apparently unquestioning followers of the Government's line. The author has lived in exile in the USA since 1988. 253 pages with appendices, a bibliography and an index. Very Good Paperback
Melaka
A guide to the city of Melaka/Malacca with includes brief notes on its important role in the country's history. Good Paperback. 100 pages with maps and several black and white and colour photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore - Miscellaneous
Short cultural notes on influences and traditions of various cultures in and around Malaysia. 207 pages.
A collection of true stories, both uplifting and amusing, intended to portray the multifaceted way of life in Malaysia. The text is in English. New Paperback. First Edition. 168 pages with an index and many colour photographs. In a slip case.
A wide ranging collection of essays from experts in their fields covering various aspects of Singapore life including, democracy, race relations,, Singaporean identity, culture, urban space and the economy. Very Good Paperback. 173 pages.
Orang Asli/Indigenous Peoples
The Jah-Het, or Jah Hut, people are a small aboriginal group living in Pahang state in Malaysia. In this book, Werner introduces the reader to a wide range of the tribe's deities, numbering more than a thousand, as represented in wood carvings. 637 pages with nearly 750 black and white plates, 34 line drawings and two maps. Near Fine Paperback Second Edition
'Tanah Tujoh' is what the Temuan, an Orang Asli/Aboriginal tribe, call the earth we live in. This is a personal account of an outsider who came to settle and marry into the Temuan people. He recounts the life and folklore of the people and how both have imbued his life. With a Foreword by Robert Knox Dentan. Very Good Paperback. First Edition...207 pages with a bibliography, index, some line drawings and black and white photographs.
Penang
This part guide, part reminiscences of the author serves as an introduction to the quieter side of Penang Island. Balik Pulau is on the opposite side of the island to the bustling city of George Town and the strands of domestic and industrial development that surround it. Although the village experiences its biggest influx during the durian season, because of its fame for producing arguably the best fruit in the country, this book highlights its many other attractions as well. Photographs by Adrian Cheah. New Paperback. First Edition. 168 pages.
This book draws together in a readable, compact and well illustrated format, the important elements of the early history of Penang following the establishment of the first British settlement in Malaya in 1786. Although Penang later became a British colony, Francis Light, the East India Company officer who oversaw the founding of the first major settlement on the island, claimed his principal aim was to set up a trading post. This 159 page book traces how the nature of the settlement changed from being a home for free booters and traders to an important part of the expanding British power in Southeast Asia. Chapters include 1 - The East India Company and Eastern Waters 1601-1786, 2 - 'Prince of Wales Island,' 3 - The Administration of Penang, 4 - Trade and Commerce, 5 - The Peoples of Penang, 6 - The Physical Development of Penang, 7 - Penang and Relations with the Malay Sultanates, 8 - A Crown Colony 1858 and a Bibliography. Fine Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket
A guide for visitors to Penang as it was beginning to regain its importance in the area following World War II The 78 pages contain sections on Air and Shipping Services, Clubs, Societies and Associations, Festival and Holiday Events, Places of Entertainment and Interest, two fold out maps and much much more. Illustrated with black and white photographs and advertisements. Fair Paperback
The book is a collection of pictorial and written sketches about Penang as it was and how it had developed until the early 1990s. Most of the black and white colour illustrations are reproductions of artistic impressions of the island. 97 pages including a bibliography, an index and maps on the endpapers. Very Good Hardback. First Edition
Malaysia & Singapore - Peranakan/Straits Chinese
The author has with this book produced probably the most authoritative work on the Nyonya kebaya, a light blouse that is the traditional wear of female descendants of Chinese and Malays known as the Straits Chinese or Babas and Nyonyas. The author was a life long collector, conservator and wearer of the kebaya and so is amply qualified to write this sumptuous book. 176 pages with the following chapters - 1 - The Nyonyas: A Brief History, 2 - Sheer Silhouettes: Kebaya Through the Ages, 3 - Gems from the Straits: The Collection of Datin Seri Mahmood, 4 -Charmed Impressions: The Artistry of the Kebaya, 5 - Women of Style: Completing the Nyonya Look & Postscript: The Future: Applications of a Fashion Icon. There is a Glossary, Bibliography, Directory and an Index. with many colour and black and white illustrations. Near Fine Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket Second Edition. Originally published in 2002
From the seventeenth century onwards Chinese immigrants have made Nanyang, Southeast Asia, their home. Before the nineteenth century most of the new settlers married into existing communities creating a distinct culture, known to day as the Peranakan or Straits Chinese tradition. In this book we get at least a visual representation of what that culture produced with a wide range of historic photographs with explanatory text. Peter Lee is the Curator of the Peranakan Museum in Singapore. 123 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback Reprint
Malaysia & Singapore - Poetry
The fifth volume of the poet's work, where poetry is mixed with short prose pieces, prosexcursions. Lee is known for the spiritual nature of her writings. New Paperback. First Edition. 100 pages.
A collection of Malay poetry by the noted Singaporean poet. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 78 page
Pantun are probably the best known form of Malay poetry. In this collection the editor has brought together a wide selection from literary sources with a special emphasis on pantun that have a story to tell. New Paperback. First Edition. The text is in Bahasa Malaysia 219 pages with a bibliography and an index.
A collection of 33 of the poet's previously published works highlighting human rights issues. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. 66 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Politics
A tale of skullduggery in Malaysian politics, where the author, a prominent businessman and politician in the state of Sarawak was detailed without trial on charges which were never substantiated. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 230 pages.
A Fabian Society pamphlet designed to bring the situation of Malaya to the attention of the British public as the country prepared for independence. Silcock was an economics professor based in Singapore from 1937 onwards. He argues for a form of government for the new country that is truly national, treating the Malay Chinese and Indian communities with equal respect. Good paperback. 43 pages with two maps.
Malaysia & Singapore - Postal History
This book is both an introduction to the stamps issues by the Brooke dynasty during their 100 years of ruling Sarawak as well as a brief sketch of their rule. Fine. Paperback. First Edition. 76 pages with maps, an index. and colour photographs of the stamps.
Malaysia & Singapore - Religion
New legislation concerning Islamic Family was introduced in Malaysia from 1983 onwards. The treatment of women under the law was not universally similar. This monograph review cases and general experiences of women brought to trial under the legislation. With an introduction by Wazir Jahan Khan. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 52 pages with a bibliography.
A missionary's account of her work in the Chinese 'New Villages' at the time of the Malayan 'Emergency.' In the words of the publisher's blurb, her converts were 'delivered from ancestor worship to serve the true and living God.' Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 190 pages.
Selangor
This paper was intended to amplify SM Middlebrook's biography of Yap Ah Loy, who is often credited as being the founder of Kuala Lumpur. Gullick moves on the look at the activities of many others in, as he says in his preface, 'converting (this) dirty, rumustious, immensely vital mining camp into the brisk, slightly genteel State capital of 1895.' 172 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
Kuala Lumpur Under Cover - Ewe Paik Leong RM50
In Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, from the backstreet of Chow Kit Road to the modern Sultan Ismail Road, ladies from all ages and ethnicities wander in the dark alleys, clubs and massage parlours. Ewe Paik Leong uncovers the hidden world of the karaoke lounges, hair salons, massage parlours which claim to offer services beyond the food courts, drawing in the young and old. He exposes the trafficking, poverty, misery, sleaze and black magic. Very Good Paperback 212 pages
Malaysia & Singapore – Sports & Pastimes
A celebration of the 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur with an account of how Malaysia's bid was prepared, a review of the XV games, an account of the state of sport in Malaysia in 1998 and the venues and technology that was to be used and a record of previous medal winners and records since 1930 as well as an index and several colour and black and white photographs
Soon after the end of World War II, Malaya demonstrated its prowess in international badminton and still today many of Malaysia's players are in the sport's top rankings. In this book the author, a keen badminton player and active official gives an insight into how this predominance has been maintained through his detailed account of the sport in Sarawak just before it became part of the Federation of Malaysia. The book comprises reports of contests at the time illustrated by many black and white photographs taken by the author himself. 131 pages with a detailed three page set of contents.
Malaysia & Singapore – Transport
A nostalgic collection of black and white photographs, at least two on each page, capturing bus travel on the peninsula during The 'Emergency.' As in all wars, for the civilian population, life just goes on. In fact, it is difficult to spot any sign of military activity in the more than 200 photographs. Near Fine First edition. Hardback. 98 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore – World War II
The author, a civilian, was interned at Changi throughout the Japanese occupation of Singapore. This book is compiled from his diary. He was part of a Bureau of Record and Enquiry, probably the only information centre in Japanese occupied territory, in an attempt to record the events that he and others witnessed. Unusually the book is free of judgments and opinions. Fine Paperback. 240 pages.
Asia
No 3 in the Monograph Series of the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences is a collection of papers from academics looking at the way in which oral tradition, travellers' tales, diaries official accounts and rituals help preserve the history of the maritime peoples of the region. 128 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents pages.
Museums of Southeast Asia - Iola Lenzi RM120
Lenzi, an arts journalist, has produced what is probably a unique guide to the region's principal museums with the principal purpose of enabling arts and historiam tourists to plan what to see and where. The book not only outlines the various collections, but also gives some information about their, sometimes complicated, histories. She includes contact information and, where relevant, something on the architecture of the buildings where the collections are housed. 204 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The Traditional Ceramics of Southeast Asia - Mick Shippen RM140
A comprehensive survey of the different traditional pottery techniques currently used in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. At a time when traditional pots are being replaced by metal and plastic ones, this book also serves as a record of traditions that may soon die out. 224 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
A look at the role played by racial concepts among colonial rulers, whether they were American, British, Dutch or Spanish, in the Malay archipelago. The author's research looks at both the opinions of anthropologists and administrators and how their concepts diverged and changed over time. New Paperback. First Edition. 147 pages with an index.
Cambodia
Cardamom Mountains: Biodiversity Survey 2000 – Jenny C Daltry & Frank Momberg (eds) RM500
This report is the result of a three month study of the Cardamom Mountains which is considered to be 'an area of extraordinary richness in terms of biodiversity.' The report ends with conservation recommendations. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition. 252 pages with several tables and some colour photographs
China
The author was born in China when her father had already set off to the USA to seek his fortune leaving his wife and family behind. He was successful and apparently remarried leaving the family in China to fend for themselves. The author takes us through her disjointed family history, disrupted by parting, war and revolution as the the different bits of their family make good in the US, Singapore and Hong Kong. Much of what happened to her parents was kept hidden from Li, but in this tumultuous story she manages to discover a fascinating family history. New Paperback 370 pages
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 Chinese etiquette in a Southeast Asian setting. So there are also sections on Peranakan culture and hawker centres as well as the more universal settings of meals, festivals and the giving of gifts. New Paperback. Reprint. First published in 2009. 95 pages with an index.
A brief explanation of the history and significance of the Chinese New Year festival and associated traditions and practices. 29 pages with six colour plates and several screened illustrations Good Hardback. Revised Edition. Originally published in 1930
A photographic introduction to the many pre-Second World War Hotels still in existence in Shanghai. The book is in Chinese and English. Each page has at least one colour photograph. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 120 pages.
12 contributors from Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan and the United States asses the changes in Chinese society through different eras. The text is in Chinese Very Good Paperback. First Edition 232 pages.
Views vary amongst Chinese Christians as to what aspects of their traditions, which often have strong Buddhist and Taoist influences, are acceptable to Christianity. In this book, the author, an Anglican priest, seeks to set the record straight. Very Good Paperback. 189 pages with a bibliography.
A guide to the principles of success both within business and the family based on methods that have been tried and tested in Chinese culture for centuries. The author stresses the importance of using Chinese symbols, which are illustrated in the book. New Paperback. 193 pages with a bibliography and an index.
Indonesia
The author sets out to show that issues such as forest fires, logging and the decimation of wildlife have been problems on the island for some time. Based on documentary research, he explains the income producing activities of inhabitants of part of Dutch Borneo, now a part of Indonesia, and the effects of those activities on the environment from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Near Fine. Paperback. First Edition. 487 pages with figures, tables, maps, a bibliography and an index.
A collection of speeches and writings of Sukarno from the 1920s to the 1940s. Good Hardback in A Good Dust Jacket. First English Language Edition. 606 pages with some black and white plates
Sri Lanka
This is a novel tourist guide of Sri Lanka that was produced as a pilot to enable tourists to experiences with their senses what it means to be in Sri Lanka, if only for a short time. This 188 page book even contains "practical exercises of the senses and mind" to enable the visitor not only to find their way physically around what Sri Lanka has to offer, but emotionally as well.
The book starts with a review of social care principles, moves on to looking at case studies internationally and then examines how Sri Lanka can benefit. This was a bold and useful study at the height of the country's civil war. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 266 pages with figures and tables.
Thailand
By the time this book was published the author and fellow speleologists had managed to catalogue more than 2,000 caves in Thailand. Most of them are included here together with not only speleological information and notes on local folklore and customs associated with several of the caves. Good Paperback. First Edition 124 pages with maps, black and white photographs and a list of references.
Xtras
A photographic tour of Africa from the North to South, but excluding Central Africa. The photos are in colour Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 320 pages.
A comprehensive guide to these popular aquarium fish with over 550 colour photographs. 224 pages with a checklist and a bibliography Good Hardback.
A detailed guide to several species of African and Central and South American Cichlids with information contributed by various experts. Good Hardback First Edition 96 pages with many colour photographs
The guide covers marine and freshwater fish tanks. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. 128 pages with a bibliography and an index and many colour photographs
94 love letters to encourage romantic correspondence. The letters are a mixture of those written by personalities in history and the author's compositions. As the preface says- 'Each letter is sublime, a mutual mind-to-mind dialogue.' Very Good Paperback. 108 pages.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.