The Singapore Grip

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.

A love story and a war story, a tragicomic tale of a city under siege and a dying way of life, The Singapore Grip completes the "Empire Trilogy" that began with Troubles and the Booker prize-winning Siege of Krishnapur.

I wish J. G. Farrell had lived to write more books

Farrell's British Empire trilogy is absolutely brilliant. Powerful satire coupled with compelling storytelling. Mike Grady's narration adds a great deal as well. I also highly recommend Troubles and The Siege of Krishnapur by the same author.

History

Needed editing. Plot, outline confused. Characters well drawn. Ending of a piece with a sprawling plot.

Satiric story of colonization

This is definitely the colonizers' story as with one or two exceptions, the main characters are all British people living high on the hog in Singapore before and during the Japanese invasion of WWII. Very few of the characters are remotely likeable but many of them are completely ludicrous.

Extraordinary story. Superbly narrated.

Looking forward to reading more J.G. Farrell . Will read this again soon!!! THE BEST 👌

This book was hard to stop listening

I loved this book! I’m an American that lived in Singapore for a decade. The story is set along the streets and locations that was familiar to me. I could visualize the story as it was being revealed. I was disappointed when the story ended as I am with most good books. I recommend this book!!