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Editorial Review Product Description
Singapore, 1939: life on the eve of World War II just isn’t what it used to be for Walter Blackett, head of British Singapore’s oldest and most powerful firm. No matter how forcefully the police break one strike, the natives go on strike somewhere else. His daughter keeps entangling herself with the most unsuitable beaus, while her intended match, the son of Blackett’s partner, is an idealistic sympathizer with the League of Nations and a vegetarian. Business may be booming — what with the war in Europe, the Allies are desperate for rubber and helpless to resist Blackett’s price-fixing and market manipulation. But something is wrong. No one suspects that the world of the British Empire — of fixed boundaries between classes and nations — is about to come to a terrible end. The Singapore Grip completes the classic historical "Empire Trilogy," which also includes Troubles and the Booker Prize-winning The Siege of Krishnapur. ... Read more Customer Reviews (20) 
J.G. Farrell's works chronicle the decline of Empire
The Singapore Grip is an astounding work of historical fiction by a master of the genre. Set in Singapore on the eve of the Japanese invasion, the reader is brought into the world of the Rubber magnates, Blackett and Webb. The firm is about to celebrate it's 50th Jubilee but of course the turning of events make the preparations seem incredibly silly as Singapore is suddenly attacked and the world order that they were to celebrate literally goes up in smoke. Farrell writes with humor and more than a touch of anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist rhetoric. His 3 novels in this series capture different locations and aspects as well as different periods in the British empire. Beyond the lampooning of the imperialist lifestyle, he populates his book with an incredible range ofcharacters who represent different points of view but also builds plot and settings that are realistic and at times gripping in their portrayal of normal life being upended by historical events.
The Singapore Grip is filled with all of these qualities and is a magnificent read.
Delightful, educational, hilarious, sad
This is the most enjoyable book I've read for ages.The plot is gripping enough to make it a page turner to be raced through, but the writing is so good that I preferred to read in short segments to stretch it out and appreciate the multiple levels.The people jump off the page at the reader with their idiosyncrasies, foibles, warmth, selfishness, delusions. The plot is gipping, but the subject is very informative historically.Everyone I've loaned the book to has purchased their owncopy to keep and extras to give to friends......delicious!!!
A Gently Farcical Historical Novel that Examines British Colonialism
THE SINGAPORE GRIP examines late-stage British colonialism through the mediums of gentle farce, improbable romance, and superb action writing. When using gentle farce, J.G. Farrell primarily plays off the attitudes of two characters--the scheming Walter Blackett, a wealthy Singapore-based merchant prince who utterly dismisses any notion there are serious shortcomings in England's colonial economic system; and Matthew Webb, a verbose peace-nik and idealistic wonk, who sees exploitation everywhere.
While the term Singapore Grip has a licentious meaning for servicemen in this novel, Farrell primarily uses this term to refer to the British colonial economic system. Depending on a character's point of view, this grip channels capital to underdeveloped Asian countries and creates jobs. Or, it causes ruinous social change that almost exclusively benefits privileged Westerners. With Farrell's gentle farcical touch, the reader sees how this system both works and prevails without ideological harangues by any characters.
As Walter personifies this colonial and economic system and Matthew makes enlightened but futile arguments for change, the Japanese invade what was then Malaya and begin a brutal military campaign that culminates with the surrender of British troops in Singapore, which was, before World War II, considered the Gibraltar of the East. In describing this military campaign, Farrell's work is absolutely first-rate. On one level, you-are-there, in the action, as the Japanese, essentially unchallenged by the RAF, bomb and strafe civilians or use their superior weaponry to route British forces. On another level, you-are-there with General Percival, the British commander, who ponders strategic and leadership issues as the British defense collapses in only a few weeks.
Romance is also an element in TSG. When Matthew faces the possibilities of romance, he finds himself connecting to a highly complex and diverse Asia that is an amalgamation of ideas and cultures. But for Walter, romance is simply a scheme for perpetuating his business. His scheming hinges on Joan, his beautiful, yet cruel and spoiled, daughter.
Major Brendan Archer, a character from TROUBLES, Farrell's first novel in his terrific Empire Trilogy, reappears in TSG and also thinks about romance. The Major, who was a shell-shocked twit in TROUBLES, emerges in TSG as a thoroughly decent and quietly heroic leader, who represents an existential midpoint between the greedy and controlling Walter and the bright and boyish Matthew.
Highly recommended.
"Strong nations will always take advantage of the weak if they can do so with impunity....Their own interests will be served."
When the Japanese invaded China in 1937 and French Indo-China in 1941, the handwriting was on the wall for the colony of Singapore, one of Great Britain's most important military and economic centers.Hubris, and the sense that their military power was vastly superior to any other in the world, however, led to Britain's lack of military preparedness and the astonishingly quick takeover of Malaya and Singapore by the Japanese in 1942,handing the British what Winston Churchill called "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history."Author J. G. Farrell recreates these traumatic days in Singapore as the final novel in his "Empire Trilogy," which, like Troubles and The Siege of Krishnapur, combines Farrell's cynicism, black humor, and sense of absurdity with his uncompromising honesty about colonialism--Britain's greed, its colonial "mission," its superior attitudes, and its cruelty toward its "subjects."
The venerable Singapore merchant firm of Blackett and Webb and its principals come vibrantly alive here as they deal with continuing strikes, unrest in rural areas, challenges to the government by the communists, and an influx of immigrants from other countries.The outbreak of war in Europe has made the demand for Blackett and Webb's rubber supplies a high priority for Britain's military cars and planes, and Blackett and Webb are poised to capitalize by manipulating prices, withholding product, and evading the law.Associating with generals, the leaders of society, and local governors, the company's representatives are busy planning an elaborate jubilee celebration.Even as the Japanese are attacking from the north, Walter Blackett continues with the planned celebration.
Farrell has obviously spent a great deal of time researching not only the actions of the military and diplomatic corps from several countries, but also determining the personalities of the British characters (real) who act within the novel.Air Chief-Marshall Sir Robert Brooke-Popham and Lt. Gen. Arthur Percival have innumerable scenes which establish their attitudes and explain their actions--and inactions.In a surprise, Farrell also includes scenes in which the Japanese reveal their own points of view as officers Kikuchi, Matsushida, and his assistant Nakamura, prepare for the battle for Singapore.
Farrell handles innumerable plot lines (and battle lines) with assurance and historical accuracy, illustrating the reality of history within the everyday lives of the merchant princes of Singapore. As the Japanese come closer to attacking Singapore, the reader is stunned by some of the reactions of the British community, concerned primarily that "the dignity of the British Government is at stake," not with the real lives that are threatened.As Singapore falls, the horrors are dramatic, revealing the inner resources--or lack thereof--of all the main characters, and as these escape--or fail to escape--Farrell has educated his readers so well that it is difficult to decide whether to be glad or sad about the fates of the characters we have followed for five hundred pages.Ultimately, Farrell's own opinions in favor of a forward-thinking world view shine through brightly, in stark contrast to those of his main characters.Mary Whipple
Troubles (New York Review Books Classics)
The Siege of Krishnapur (New York Review Books Classics)
Perhaps not great but really really good
J G Farrell didn't produce great literature but he certainly wrote some wonderful stories, and could be hilariously funny as he wrote about members of the British empire facing historical disasters and pondered the past, present and future of the human race. The Singapore story is one of the most interesting to come out of WWII. Farrell gives great detail and penetrating irony verging sometimes on slapstick humor to a true horror of the mid-20th century. Great characters, great story, great history, a great read.
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