november august author graduate singapore cambridge trained engineering economics managed business worked member years service conferred additional bar year started writing fiction late life publishing novel shrimp people age substantial work writer community singapore highly commended won award books people pear tree island centre theme followed decade respectively won winner critics responded positively writing noting passionate humane style observing breadth life experience gave rise talent characterisation plus ability blend sharp sense observed commentary historical detail early life education born november singapore mixed english portuguese ancestry father shipyard worker mother teacher educated anthony catholic school japanese language school year japanese occupation singapore employment carpenter apprentice shipyard following world war graduated singapore honours degree chemistry completed university scholarship later read engineering economics university_of_cambridge involved left wing student politics time career graduating worked malaysia returned singapore began working company manufacturing pipes subsequently starting machinery business served decades body created promotes dismisses exercises disciplinary control public officers singapore additional responsibility planning scholarships provided involved interviewing civil servants students seeking scholarships wrote book entitled interview job service people singapore government conferred awarding additional bar following year taught speak japanese edited words mean business basic japanese business new version book published year subsequently wrote japan cultures world series culture shock japan self taught painter piano player fiction writing began writing fiction late life publishing novel shrimp people age substantial novel writer community singapore best selling local paperback times consecutive weeks august september remained december year work won works english following year despite books established writers wrote books people pear tree island centre theme decade won respectively won known simply according poet emeritus professor sensitive acute observer life started writing late material generated fiction brought bear insights engineer businessman administrator public servant person loved life character analysis penetrating range characters fully reflective society wrote associate professor writer literary editor commented impact singapore literary scene ought body work significant community wider singapore society belongs small significant group writers articulated experiences think writing notwithstanding contribution admirable best writing passionate humane highly focused generally kept low profile literary works stand test time combining sharp sense observed commentary historical detail winner august subsidiary reissued books shrimp people non fiction work published sounds sins shrimp people selected english singapore books alongside titles later life died lung cancer singapore august survived wife separated children michael sisters joy grandchildren book hero biography uncle published posthumously works fiction shrimp people singapore isbn people pear tree singapore isbn island centre singapore isbn river roses singapore isbn non fiction words mean business basic japanese business singapore isbn japan cultures world series singapore isbn culture shock japan singapore isbn sounds sins nonsense singapore isbn interview job singapore isbn hero singapore isbn
Rex Shelley