Written Country: The History of Singapore through Literature

Gwee Li Sui
Paperback, 356 pages
9789814189668

 

Written Country intriguingly reconstructs the history of modern Singapore through fifty defining moments from the Fall of Singapore to the passing of Lee Kuan Yew. The works of Singapore’s best novelists, poets and playwrights anthologised in this telling include:

Japanese Occupation by Goh Sin Tub
Maria Hertogh Riots by Alfian Sa’at
Hock Lee Bus Riot by Meira Chand
Introduction of CPF by Gopal Baratham
First Merdeka Talks by Hedwig Anuar
Women’s Charter by Lee Tzu Pheng
Operation Coldstore by Said Zahari
Pulau Senang Mutiny by Dave Chua
National Theatre by Boey Kim Cheng
Singapore in Malaysia by Rosaly Puthucheary
Creation of the Merlion by Stella Kon
Prophet Muhd’s Birthday Riot by Robert Yeo
Independence of Singapore by Edwin Thumboo
Toa Payoh New Town by Koh Buck Song
Family Planning Campaign by Felix Cheong
National Campaigns by Catherine Lim
Social Development Unit by Michael Chiang
Hotel New World Collapse by Haresh Sharma
Operation Spectrum by Aileen Lau
Caning of Michael Fay by Tan Tarn How
SilkAir Crash by David Leo
Singapore in Recession by Toh Hsien Min
Escape of Mas Selamat by Marc Nair
Little India Riot by Muhammad Sharif Udin