Singapore Grip
by J. G. Farrell
1978 / 568 pages
rating 8.5/ 20th cent lit

In 1937 Walter Blackett is the owner of a large rubber plant and export firm in Singapore where he lives with his wife Sylvia and their three children.  Monty, the eldest, is immature and not a businessperson type of guy, while Joan, beautiful and well-educated, tends to be attracted to unsuitable men. The youngest, Katie, an interesting adolescent, is growing up a tad fast.

Mr. Webb was Blackett’s business partner for many years but is now old and in poor health, dying actually. His wife is deceased and their only child, Matthew, is an idealistic wandererwhen the book opens. Major Brandon Archer (from Farrell’s Troubles) is a middle-aged single man who is employed by Webb. His name, Major, was his rank in the Great War and it stuck. >>>>MORE>>>>