A note on book covers: while we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
It was a diary that had first sat at the back of a locked steel cabinet for two decades and then in a taped box for close to another four decades. A secret diary kept by a Cabinet Minister of the discussions and decisions that went on behind the scenes and that determined the path of Singapore’s political development during the late 1950s. It was a tumultuous time that saw the People’s Action Party come into power because of the ineptitude — or, in the words of Lee Kuan Yew, the corruption and stupidities — of the Labour Front government. The diary was kept by Francis Thomas, an Englishman who made Singapore his home and who played a key role in the dying days of the Labour Front government. The Politics of Defeat is his inside story of those days.
A note on book covers: while we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Exclusive insider account of Singapore's political upheaval.
Who is this book for?
If you're interested in Singapore’s political history and behind-the-scenes stories, this diary offers a rare glimpse into the tumultuous late 1950s. Francis Thomas's detailed account reveals how critical decisions shaped the nation’s future, making it a compelling read for history buffs and political enthusiasts alike who want to understand the complexities of Singapore’s path to independence.
