Singapore, neither very old nor very large, is still of enormous importance in today’s world because of its location as a major port and air hub and its incredibly multicultural population. This new edition of the Historical Dictionary of Singapore has been totally rewritten and reflects the influence that Singapore has on today’s global society. The author has published previously about Singapore, and as an Australian, he has something of a regional connection. Like other titles in the various Historical Dictionaries series, this one begins with a chronology and a lengthy introduction, which places the history of Singapore in context. The entries that follow range in length from a paragraph to a bit over one page. These include biographies of major figures from the country’s history (for example, founder Sir Thomas Raffles and current president Selleppan Nathan) and places, such as Sentosa Island and Singapore Botanic Gardens. Entries on general topics, such as Elections, Smuggling, and Television, are numerous, as are entries on major political events, such as Malayan Emergency and World War II. As is the practice for this series, there are no further readings attached to the entries, but there is a lengthy bibliography that is divided by subjects and preceded by an introduction. Appendixes include lists of colonial officials and heads of state as well as population statistics. This would be a valuable addition to a library with a focus on Southeast Asia.
