The British in Malaya, 1880-1941: The Social History of a European Community in Colonial South-East Asia
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Author Description
Snake Wine, first published in 1955, is an account of Patrick Anderson’s two years at the University of Singapore as lecturer in English between 1950 and 1952. The original blurb of the book states ‘for a while he lived in a lonely house on the edge of bandit-infested jungle’. In the late ’70s most Singaporeans and certainly the millions of tourists who visit the Republic of Singapore annually may find such a statement difficult to believe, yet the account is only a quarter of a century old. The publishers feel justified in reissuing the book as one of the most interesting accounts in English of the pre-independence, and pre-industrialization period. Anderson has an unjaded eye, an unconventional mind, a taste for the exotic, a keen sense of the droll and a lively interest in the diversity of human manners and motives. His account includes the many different sides of Singapore, from rat-infested midnight streets to clashes with traditional colonial civil servants and their wives. This is a fascinating story of one man’s involvement in a Singapore that has changed out of all recognition and can be enjoyed both by tourists and local residents alike.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the social structure, cultural norms, and daily lives of the British community residing in Malaya during the height of colonial administration between 1880 and 1941. John G. Butcher utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to analyze how this expatriate group maintained its identity and social hierarchy within a foreign environment. The book argues that the British community was not a monolithic entity but a complex social construct shaped by class, gender, and the specific pressures of colonial governance. By examining the interactions between the British and the local population, the author provides a framework for understanding the internal dynamics of colonial life prior to the Japanese occupation.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed analysis of the British social hierarchy and class stratification in colonial Malaya.
- Examination of the role of colonial civil servants, plantation managers, and their families.
- Use of primary source materials including diaries, letters, and colonial administrative records.
- Exploration of the cultural and social boundaries maintained between the British and the indigenous population.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars of South-East Asian history frequently cite this work as a definitive study on the social composition of the British colonial presence. The text is noted for its rigorous academic approach and its ability to provide a nuanced view of colonial life beyond simple political narratives.
Page Count:
293
Publication Date:
1979-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195804457
ISBN-13:
9780195804454
History
Social History
Malaya
Colonialism
Foreign countries
Europeans
British
British Empire
