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Tan Kim Seng: A Biography
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Unveiling Singapore pioneer Tan Kim Seng's legacy.
If you find the roots of modern Singapore fascinating, this biography will be a rich resource for you. It gives life to the story of Tan Kim Seng, a man whose influence is still seen in the city's landmarks. Illustrated with rare family images, it's not just a tale of history, but of a vision and legacy that continues to shape a nation.
Tan Kim Seng: A Biography
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Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
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Description
It is remarkable that no biography of Tan Kim Seng has been published until now considering that his imprint on 19th century Singapore is so significant.
Most Singaporeans will associate him with the Tan Kim Seng Fountain, Kim Seng Road and Kim Seng Bridge. Others may be aware of how the fountain came to be and that Tan Kim Seng in 1849 founded Chong Wen Ge, the first Chinese school in Singapore. Or that he was pivotal in quelling the Great Riot of 1854 when Hokkien and Teochew secret societies clashed. And that he gave a ball that was so famous that it was reported in England in a journal published by Charles Dickens. Some may not even know these facts.
In the year when Singapore commemorates its bicentennial, it is timely that the life story of one of our most entrepreneurial pioneers is made known in a lavish book illustrated with rare images from the Tan family collection.
Tan Kim Seng was not the typical refugee from South China. His family had already been in the Nanyang for three generations when he arrived in Singapore in the 1820s. With business ecumen and gaining trust with British merchants, he built an empire with warehouses, mansions and the largest single piece of property which stretched from the coast of Pasir Panjang to Ulu Pandan to Tanglin.
The details of his will, designed to repel “the curse of the third generation”, is founded on his values and beliefs. But what he did not anticipate was how his well-thought-out plans would be unravelled primarily by English Law.
Author: Vivienne Tan
Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 148
Publisher: Landmark Books
Publication Date: 2019
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Unveiling Singapore pioneer Tan Kim Seng's legacy.
If you find the roots of modern Singapore fascinating, this biography will be a rich resource for you. It gives life to the story of Tan Kim Seng, a man whose influence is still seen in the city's landmarks. Illustrated with rare family images, it's not just a tale of history, but of a vision and legacy that continues to shape a nation.
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