One of the significant human consequences of Western colonialism in Southeast Asia was the development of intimate relationships between European men and local women, and the subsequent creation over time of a small, but tenacious and vibrant Eurasian community. In the city-state of Singapore, the Eurasians are known by colloquial names such as
mestico,
serani, and
geragok. Rex Shelley is a distinguished and articulate member of this hardy band.
Shelley was born in neighbouring Malaysia in 1930 of English, Portuguese, Malay and Buginese descent. His father was a shipyard worker; his mother a schoolteacher. He attended St Anthony's Catholic School in Singapore before the Pacific War, and then a Japanese language school for a year during the wartime Occupation. Shelley's first employment
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Citation: Wicks, Peter Charles. "Rex Shelley". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 August 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11801, accessed 23 November 2024.]
