Travellers’ Tales of Old Singapore

About the Book

From the very beginning, Singapore’s promise of adventure and romance lured visitors to her shores. Travellers came from everywhere and found in Singapore so much to amaze and amuse, so much to write home about.

     The tales selected for this collection take the reader back to the early days of Singapore when pirates roamed the seas and tigers ate Chinamen for breakfast. It was an era of rickshaws and gharries, of pepper and gambier plantations, of secret societies and opium dens.

     Through the eyes of more than 60 visitors are seen glimpses of a place, a time and a way of life that is very different from today’s.

     First published in 1985, this classic volume is bound to entertain and inform a whole new generation of readers.


About the Author

The compiler, Michael Wise, was born in London and educated at Oxford University. He worked in Asia for 10 years and lived in Singapore for five. He has contributed articles to The Straits Times, Singapore’s leading newspaper and maintains a lifelong interest in writing, travel and things of the past.


Target Audience

Historians, students, general interest readers