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Kampong Spirit


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  • Description
  • Praise
  • About the Author
  • The most significant aspect of living in a kampong was its kampong spirit—or gotong royong. Though deprived of modern comforts like electricity or running water, multi-racial neighbours lived harmoniously with each other in their attap villages, had a wonderful zest for life and a strong sense of community. Kampong Spirit brings to life the colourful characters of the villagers with whom the Peranakan author, Josephine Chia, grew up at a kampong in Potong Pasir.

    The period 1955 to 1965 was also a dramatic era for Singapore. As the country struggled towards nationhood, the social and political events of this time and their effects are seen through the eyes of the common folk.

    This collection of delightful, real life short stories will take you through Singapore’s history and heritage at a human level. For some, it will be a journey of discovery and for others it will be a time of reminiscing for those nostalgic years.

  • This book gives a fascinating insight into life in a Singaporean Kampong during the transition from British rule to self-government with comparisons at different levels of living conditions. Josephine ‘s remarkable recall of childhood memories is fascinating ... This is a very well written book with vivid descriptions that are believable. It could be a useful reference book for students of the history of Singapore. 
    —Jennie Lisney, Vice President of UK’s Society of Woman Writers & Journalists

  • Josephine Chia is a Peranakan Chinese who was born and raised in Kampong Potong Pasir, Singapore, in the 1950s during the colonial era. Josephine is proud of her culture and heritage and loves to wear her sarong kebaya. She is mesmerized by stories and enjoys the dreamtime of writing. She has lived in UK for more than thirty years but had returned home to live at the end of 2012.

    Josephine writes in English, in both fiction and non-fiction and has published twelve books. Josephine has won literary prizes and awards both in UK and Singapore. Kampong Spirit: Gotong Royong, Life in Potong Pasir 1955 to 1965, won the Singapore Literature Prize for Non-Fiction in November 2014. She has a BA Honours in Philosophy from Singapore University and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, UK. She is a member of UK’s Society of Authors and Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ), and has served on the National Council of UK SWWJ to promote writing in UK.

ISBN: 9789814398602
Cover Type: Paperback
Page Count: 232
Year Published: 2013