Son of Singapore by Kok Seng Tan
English | July 27th, 2016 | ASIN: B01J722202, ISBN: 9971640120 | 118 Pages | EPUB | 0.80 MB
A publishing sensation in the 1970s and 1980s, Son of Singapore traces the extraordinary upbringing of an Everyman. As a Teochew farm boy coming of age during the Japanese Occupation, Tan Kok Seng enters the "university of the world" at only 15, becoming a coolie at the Orchard Road market. On his rounds to the homes of the "Red Hairs", he befriends a group of Chinese dialect-speaking Caucasians who inspire him to improve himself beyond his humble roots.

A publishing sensation in the 1970s and 1980s, Son of Singapore traces the extraordinary upbringing of an Everyman. As a Teochew farm boy coming of age during the Japanese Occupation, Tan Kok Seng enters the "university of the world" at only 15, becoming a coolie at the Orchard Road market. On his rounds to the homes of the "Red Hairs", he befriends a group of Chinese dialect-speaking Caucasians who inspire him to improve himself beyond his humble roots.

Set against Singapore's push towards self-governance, Tan's engaging autobiography reflects the pioneering spirit of the times. Written in deceptively simple prose, notable for its English transliteration of Teochew adages, Son of Singapore sensitively captures fast-disappearing places, people and everyday ways of living.