Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore (Cassell Military Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Noel Barber (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cassell Military Paperbacks | Publication Date: April 1, 2007

Published to international acclaim in 1968, Noel Barber's account of the fall of Singapore remains the best account of this, Britain's greatest military defeat. In just ten weeks, Malaya was overrun and the 'fortress' of Singapore surrendered to a Japanese army that found itself outnumbered by the 100,000+ British and Commonwealth prisoners. Written at a time when he could still interview many of the senior officers as well as ordinary soldiers caught up in this disaster, Noel Barber's account reveals how peacetime complacency prevailed in Singapore up to the very moment the Japanese onslaught began.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bestselling author of Tanamera

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Cassell (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304364371
• ISBN-13: 978-0304364374
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #645,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > History > Asia > Singapore

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book which documents the fall of Singapore really capably, April 26, 2010

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)

It was indeed a severe psychological and military blow to the British when Singapore fell. This book is an excellent account of that fall, and what led up to it. Really well written, it also illustrates the military incompetence and unprofessionalism of the British military command even a couple of years in to WW2. Some beautiful vignettes of pre-war Singapore as well as of events that took place during the fight for Singapore and it's fall. Well worth the read.

Incidentally, the name of the commander of the Australian Division in Singapore (Gordon Bennett), who had himself flown out to Australia whilst deserting his men, went on to become an Australian swearword. As in, when you whacked your thumb with a hammer, you exclaimed "Gordon Bennett" rather than the more colloqual F word! The same should have applied to the British commanders who failed their men so miserably. Anyhow, that was an aside.....