The End of the War
The End of the War, Singaporeīs Liberation and the Aftermath of the Second World War by Bose Romen, is based on research gleaned from classified documents only recently made public in the UK, the author gives a readable account of the events that took place behind the scenes as the British prepared to return to Malaya and Singapore to reestablish their authority. With a cast of historical characters ranging from General Itagaki to the members of Force 136, the events leading up to and following the Japanese surrender in Southeast Asia is captured here in detail in this volume.
The End of the War book specifications: Region: Singapore; Format: Paperback, 211 pages; Published: 2005, Singapore, 1st Edition; ISBN: 9812610669; SB#: 037298. 
Admiral Zheng He and Southeast Asia
This book was published to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Admiral Zheng Heīs maiden voyage to Southeast Asia and beyond. To reflect Asian views on the subject matter, nine articles written by Asian scholars have been reproduced in this volume. Originally published from 1964 to 2005, the articles are grouped into three clusters. The first cluster examines the relationship of the Ming court with Southeast Asia in general and the Malacca empire in particular. The second cluster looks at the socio-cultural impact of the Zheng He expeditions on some Southeast Asian countries, with special reference to the role he played in the Islamization of Java. The last cluster deal with the route the Zheng He expeditions and the location of the places that were visited.
Half a million Hungarian Holocaust Victim
Some 550,000 Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust are remembered the 61st anniversary of what is considered the start of the Holocaust in Hungary. Countryside Jews began to be rounded up and deported to Nazi concentration camps on April 16, 1944. Hungary was an ally of Nazi Germany, and deportations of Jews began after Nazi forces occupied the country. In less than two months, 437,000 Jews were deported, all but 15,000 to Auschwitz and the nearby Birkenau camp. A third of Auschwitz victims were Hungarian. Some 70,000 Jews - mainly women, children and the elderly - are thought to have survived the terrible conditions in the ghetto until it was liberated by the Soviet army in January 1945.
Iris Chang the Chinese Historian
Iris Chang historian and author of the bestselling nonfiction book. In 2003, she released a book entitled "The Chinese in America: A Narrative History", tracing more than 150 years of Asian-American history. Iris Chang understands that to communicate history, is to tell the story in an interesting way - that is what makes her such a good historian.
 Her best-known book was the haunting 1997 book "The Rape Of Nanking". Ms. Chang who chronicled the rape and massacre of thousands of Chinese civilians at the hands of Japanese troops before World War II in "The Rape of Nanking" which details the slaughter of Chinese civilians by the Imperial Japanese army that occupied China in the late 1930s. Her first book was "Thread of Silkworm" which told a fascinating story of a Chinese scientist, Tsien Hsue-Shen, educated in U. S. with great contribution in US rocketry, was falsely accused as a communist and deported back to China in 1950īs. Upon return to China, he became the father of Chinese missile program.
Sadly on 9 November 2004 this highly acclaimed Chinese-American historical author was found dead in her car at the age of 36 apparently from a gun shot wound. She had recently suffered a breakdown while researching a new book and had been hospitalized. Iris Chang was a former newswire reporter, and was born in Princeton in the eastern state of New Jersey and lived in San Jose, California.
Joseph J. Ellis studies George Washington
In "His Excellency: George Washington", Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph J. Ellis examines the myths and realities surrounding the United States of Americaīs first president. Ellis observed that Washington was motivated as much by enlightened self-interest as his idealism.
Joseph J. Ellis won the Pulitzer Prize for his book "Founding Brothers" and was a professor at Mount Holyoke for many years, broken by a one-year suspension for fabricating an enviable military career as a platoon leader in Vietnam. Beloved by his students and respected by his readers, he was widely seen as betraying both by his lies, both about himself and about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.
His latest book, draws from the catalogued Washington papers at the University of Virginia, Joseph Ellis follows Washington from his military career through his years as president. He illuminates the difficulties the first executive faced as he worked to keep the emerging country united in the face of adversarial factions. He details aspects of Washingtons private life, his marriage and subsequent entrance into the upper echelons of Virginias plantation society, his large debts, his attitude toward slavery, his relationship with his profligate stepson; that shaped the public figure. Throughout, Ellis reveals to us Washington in the context of 18th-century America, allowing us to comprehend the magnitude of his accomplishments and the character of his heart and mind, as they might have been perceived in his own time.
A book that helps Kansas legend remember his roots
 Gordon Parks, the author, photographer, poet, musical composer and filmmaker, all rolled into one famous Kansan, came home last week to Fort Scott. He was born there in 1912, 91 years ago.
The occasion was a communitywide celebration organized by the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity at Fort Scott Community College. "We believe there is much to be learned from his life," the centerīs director, Jill Warford, said of Parks. "The message he expresses in his work is as relevant today as it was 80 years ago."
The four-day festivities included a Queen Bey concert, recollections by Parksī family and friends, lectures, panel discussions and workshops involving films, diversity and the arts. It attracted nearly 300 people and ended Saturday night with a sold-out dinner and "A Tribute to Gordon Parks."
"This was only Parksī second heralded visit to the southeastern Kansas community since 1968, when he was there filming "The Learning Tree" movie. It was the movie version of his classic autobiography about being young and black, growing up in southeast Kansas in the 1920s. Being back home is difficult to explain," Parks said during an interview Friday. "Itīs difficult to explain. Itīs wonderful and itīs strange ... brings back all of the good memories and the bad memories together. Last night they all trapped me in bed ... all those memories." Flashing a smile he said, "Itīs just wonderful to be home. Suddenly Iīm out here in this beautiful Kansas day."
Ailing and still recovering from recent surgery, the longtime New York City dweller and socialite looked natty in a blue broadcloth shirt, Burberry plaid slacks and hand-sewn loafers without socks. Someone said he was "looking good." "I wish I felt as good as I look," Parks said grinning.
60th anniversary of D-Day
The year 2004 is the 60th anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944). The books tell stories not often told or only recently uncovered about D-Day. Each approaches the most decisive day of battle in World War II from different angles. They offer compelling reading for even those who think they've read it all before.
On th of June 1944, Allied seaborne invasion of Normandy. This day marked the beginning of the end of World War II and the eventual liberation of Europe. From those bloody shores, 250,000 young Americans, Canadians and British began the push through to Hitler's forces in Berlin. All over the world, those who fought on that day, those leaders who helped prepare for the invasion, and those who have since survived will be celebrated.
The commemoration of D-Day is an opportunity to teach our children about the courageous, terrifying and inspirational acts of those who have served in the past and those who are serving us, today.
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