A River of Roses
Rex Shelley
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2011
ISBN: 9789814346269

The Japanese have surrendered and the British are returning to the Straits Settlements. But secret societies, gangs and communists continue to wreak havoc on a society fatigued from the savagery of war.

Enter Philippa Rosario, a passionate literature teacher, ardent believer of zodiacs and star signs, and unlikely underground resistance informant. Her mission is simple: to pose as "The White Y's" lover and collect information from him. What she doesn't expect is to meet and fall in love with a simple jazz musician who hits all the right notes. But what the stars do not tell Philippa is that she is headed straight for heartbreak and tragedy.

Island in the Centre
Rex Shelley
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2011
ISBN: 9789814346252

Tomio Nakajima has everything a man could want - a job in the exotic Straits Settlements and a beautiful wife. But when his homeland of Japan enters the World War II fray, he finds himself unwittingly recruited as part of Japanese intelligence. Matters are further complicated when he falls in love with Vicky Viera, a beautiful Straits-born Eurasian, who has a few secrets of her own. In a climate of betrayal and intrigue, will their love be able to remain pure? And what will prove stronger - loyalty to one's lover or loyalty to one's country?

People of the Pear Tree
Rex Shelley
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2011
ISBN: 9789814346245

The Japanese forces have moved into Singapore. Their suspicion of Eurasians being sympathetic to the British has prompted them to move the Eurasians enmasse to Bahau in Malaya, where the soil is poor and malaria is rampant.

Anti-Japanese sentiment runs high and Gus Perera, buoyed by thoughts and promises of liberation made by the resistance movement, joins the Anti-Japanese Army. The turn of events, however, has made things difficult for Captain Takanashi Junichiro who is in love with Gus' sister, the beautiful Anna Perera, who must now question her own feelings - can she bring herself to love someone who is considered by all to be the enemy?

Conserving the Past, Creating the Future: Urban Heritage in Singapore
Lily Kong
Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority, 2011
ISBN: 9789814266925

This carefully researched and compellingly written book brings the reader through the changing landscapes of Singapore from its early colonial roots, its overcrowded squalor and its aggressive demolition-and-rebuilding phase to the greater sensitivity that characterises urban planning today, acknowledging the place of history, memory and heritage in the making of the city. Within the pages of six well-illustrated chapters, the reader is reminded of Singapore's lost landscapes, demolished before conservation efforts kicked in, as well as the conserved charm of landmarks and districts that were spared the wrecker's ball. Throughout, the challenge of finding the appropriate balance between development and conservation is palpable. As the city-state matures and negotiates its existence in a globalised world, the balance between the search for a unique identity and the response to and fulfilment of economic and development imperatives remains a delicate one.

Teo Eng Seng: Art and Thoughts
T.K. Sabapathy
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810884611 (pbk) / 9789810884604 (hbk)

This is a ground-breaking explication on the works of Teo Eng Seng by T.K. Sabapathy. There is also a record of a conversation between the two, describing some of the significant influences and events in Eng Seng's development as an artist.

Eng Seng was born in 1938 in Singapore. One of the country's pre-eminent artists, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1986. Eng Seng graduated in Fine Art (1967) and Art Teaching (1968) from Birmingham College of Art and Design and Birmingham University, England respectively. He then embarked upon a long teaching career which took in Shoreditch School (London) and United World College South East Asia (Singapore) among others, as well as serving on various arts bodies and institutions.

Published together for the first time are Eng Seng's major creations in various media, including painting, installation art and his unique paperdyesculp, from the 1960s to 2010.

Once Bitten, Never Shy: Confessions of a Backpacking Diplomat
Sim Siong Chye
Singapore: Armour Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789814305396

After being offered his first overseas posting to Beijing, Sim Siong Chye was smitten by the wanderlust of travelling. Criss-crossing several continents, from Asia to Europe, the Middle East and South America, the author's encounters and cultural exchanges enable us to discover the joy and exuberance of backpacking travels. Filled with comical instances, Once Bitten, Never Shy allows us to sightsee without leaving our armchairs.

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Liu Kang: Essays on Art & Culture
Sara Siew (ed.)
Singapore: The National Art Gallery, Singapore, 2011
ISBN: 9789810876753

Like the others of his pioneering generation, Liu Kang did much to realise the Nanyang style, giving birth to an art that drew upon the tropics for inspiration. The Nanyang style has come to be recognised as a milestone in Singapore art history. Liu Kang was a prolific artist who travelled widely to gain inspiration for his art. He also dedicated 33 years of his life to art education, teaching in various schools in Singapore and Malaya. Besides this, he also assumed leadership positions in art societies, such as the Society of Chinese Artists and Singapore Art Society.

This collection of 80 essays, written over 44 years, offers an insight into first-generation artist Liu Kang's myriad interests: apart from the visual arts, these also include interior design, music, literature, dance, photography, and medical science. Liu Kang wrote his essays in Chinese. They have been translated into English for the first time, and are accompanied by commentaries and photographs of the artist-author and his subjects.

Legal Legacies: The Story of Singapore Law
Singapore Academy of Law Legal Heritage Committee
Singapore: Academy Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810885113

This book is a delightful synopsis of Singapore’s rich legal heritage. It highlights the development of Singapore’s legal system, the evolution of legal practice and the changes in court systems from tenuous beginnings to world-class status.

Legal Legacies provides a pictorial look at the key moments, places and people in Singapore’s legal history over 60 photographs, many of which are seen here for the first time, punctuated by interesting anecdotes

Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit From Singapore
Gwee Li Sui (ed.)
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810882778

This literary anthology - centred on the travails of the human spirit - is like none other published in Singapore. It testifies to the social reflections of generations of Singaporean writers and their inquiries into issues of freedom, equality, humanity, and hope. The selection brings together works originally written in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil across almost six decades of Singaporean life. They are arranged here in a compelling way that argues for the inevitable interconnections of these concerns. Man/Born/Free is an exciting initiative to commemorate the relationship between Singapore and South Africa as extended through the 2011 event, Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.

Private Passion: The Photographs of Pioneer Politican and Diplomat S. Rajaratnam
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011
ISBN: 9789814311434

Sinnathamby Rajaratnam was one of Singapore's founding fathers and her first Foreign Minister. While much has been written about his distinguished public career, which spanned almost 30 years, and his significant political accomplishments, this book is about his private passion for photography and introduces his photographic art to a wider audience for the first time. The introductory essay provides essential biographical information as well as new insights into the depths of Rajaratnam's nearly life-long interest in photography. This is followed by an album of images selected from the thousands that he left behind - images from his student years in London, from his extensive travels, and from Singapore and his home surroundings. Thus the reader is introduced to another facet of this SIngapore pioneer, namely his humanity and his quest for creative expression. Whilst the photographs can be enjoyed in and of themselves, they also invite the reader to consider the life and times of the man behind the lens.

Singapore Women's Charter: Roles, Responsibilities and Rights in Marriage
Theresa W. Devasahayam (ed.)
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011
ISBN: 9789814279765

The chapters in this book are an assembly of commentaries by a distinguished team of specialists on the social impact of the Singapore Women's Charter on women and men. The Women's Charter is the main legislation protecting women's rights in the context of the family in Singapore. Highlights of this book include the reasons for the significance of legislation to protect women's rights in marriage; how the legislation came about; case studies from Southeast Asia; how the Singapore Women's Charter evolved and became established; how the Charter goes beyond protecting women's rights by reinforcing men's and women's obligations and duties in a marital partnership; how the Charter has come to be perceived by men and women especially in its enforcement in the context of divorce; and the social repercussions of the Charter on the family in its application.

There has been ongoing discussion on the implications of the Charter on the lives of Singaporean women and men for some years since its implementation. The purpose of this book is to enrich our understanding of this legislation further - its objectives, efficacy and shortfalls.