The first-ever Singapore prize devoted solely to history is showcasing a different side of the island-state’s past. Its shortlist of six books eschews the traditional view of history as an account of big movers and shakers in favour of more personal accounts of the lives of average Singaporeans. The books range from academic work to novels with a historical slant, as well as non-fiction that has a strong element of the historical era in question.
The prize is named in honour of Christopher Bathurst KC (1934-2009), who was a barrister at Fountain Court Chambers and developed a substantial practice in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore. He was also a fervent Singaporean nationalist, and his clients viewed him as both a formidable advocate and a loyal friend and adviser.
He is credited for his leadership in developing and championing the Singapore commercial arbitration industry. He was also a leading member of the English common law community and a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords.
In the 2024 biennial Singapore Literature Prize (abbrv SLP), writers compete in 12 categories for top prizes of up to $10,000 each, across Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. In the fiction category, Myle Yan Tay is nominated for his debut novel catskull, while Cultural Medallion winner Suchen Christine Lim is in the running for her Dearest Intimate.
Despite the age difference, these two friends have something in common: a love for classical music. Both have sung in their school choirs, played cello for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and were part of the Youth Choir that represented Singapore at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Germany. The pair have also sung as a duet at the Esplanade’s Theatres on the Bay festival in Singapore and are currently preparing for the European tour of their show, a musical collaboration called Songbirds.
The duo’s success has earned them the attention of international scouts, who have invited them to audition for a number of productions. They are currently in talks with several Hollywood producers about working together on a movie.
Last Friday, Sonny Liew, a graphic artist from Singapore, won three Eisner awards – widely regarded as the Oscars of the comic world – for his book The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye. Liew’s work retraces the controversial history of the tightly controlled city-state, including its violent strikes and riots, detention of left-wing politicians and trade unionists and alleged Marxist conspiracy in 1987.
Britain’s Prince William joined celebrities, actors and environmentalists on the green carpet in Singapore on Tuesday at the third Earthshot prize ceremony, where five winners ranging from a solar-powered dryer to combat food waste to an improved battery for electric cars were unveiled. William praised the finalists for their innovative solutions and said they proved that hope remains despite the devastating effects of climate change. In the evening, he took part in a dragon boat race and met Singaporeans to hear how they are working to combat illegal wildlife trading, estimated to be worth $20 billion globally.