Tales from the South China Seas

Charles Allen, based on memoirs and taped recollection of fifty men and women, pulls together an anecdote based explanation of all things ex-pat British in the South China Seas. This loose description covers primarily Malaya and the Sarawak / North Borneo areas of the island of Borneo, with other lesser contributions from Singapore, Indonesia, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and China.

For me the format didn't suit my reading. I found the anecdotes or quoted explanation too bitsy and they felt heavily edited. There was certainly enough of interest in the book, it did a good job of covering the entire scope of life in the colonies.

It covers the government officials, district officers, the rubber estate men, tin miners and their families. It explains the arrangements when signing on, involving a prescribed period of years before a man can consider being wed and bringing his bride to the colonies. It explains the transplanted British way of life, and how it varies from actual life in Britain. The many varied interactions with the locals are well described, including how the ex-pat ladies coped with life in the tropics. Right at the end the anecdotes turn to the time of the British return after Japanese occupation.

The book also provides a glossary of terms and a paragraph on each of the contributors.

3 stars