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About the Author

Wang Gungwu, historian of grand themes and broad perspectives, has held positions in universities around the world, from London and Cambridge to Kuala Lumpur, Canberra, Hong Kong and Singapore. This second volume of his memoirs, written with his wife Margaret, continues the very personal story begun in Home is Not Here (2018). Wang’s account of his years at the University of Malaya, captures the excitement, the ambition—and the naïveté—of young English educated elites being prepared for leadership by the departing colonial power. He introduces us to some outstanding personalities of this founding generation of two nations, including young medical student
Mahathir Mohamad.

We also see these years from Margaret’s perspective, her own fascinating family story, and her impressions of this young bearded poet. The exploration of the emotional and intellectual journey towards the formation of an identity, treasured by readers of Home is Not Here, extends in this volume into an appreciation of love, family life, and the
life of the mind.

Wise and moving, this is a fascinating reflection on identity and
belonging, and on the ability of the individual to find a place amidst the
historical currents that have shaped Asia and the world.
“A wonderful, rich tapestry of the Malay(si)an life of Southeast Asia’s great cosmopolitan, at the centre of Asia’s mid-century intellectual upheaval."
– Anthony Reid, ANU

“Recording Professor Wang Gungwu’s intellectual journey as he navigated often unsettling questions regarding cultural identity, and his obligations as a citizen-scholar, it also chronicles the individuals and influences that shaped his academic direction. At the same time, the book is a testimony to the support and commitment he received from Margaret Wang, whose own memories, skilfully incorporated into the narrative, highlight the strength of their long partnership.”
– Barbara Watson Andaya, University of Hawaii

“Wang’s memoir provides insight into what shaped the scholarship and world-view of this greatly admired historian. But the most compelling reading here is Wang’s learning where home really is....”
– Lee Kam Hing, New Era
Wang Gungwu, formerly vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, is emeritus professor at Australian National University and university professor at the National University of Singapore. He is the author of some 20 books, including Home is Not Here, published by NUS Press.

Margaret Wang was educated at the University of Malaya, Homerton College, Cambridge, and the Australian National University. She was head of the English Department at the Malayan Teachers College.

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Home is Where We Are