Literary Notes: As a relatively new city, there is a distinct lack of English-language fiction set in Kuala Lumpur. Paul Theroux's Consul's File (1977) is an excellent collection of short stories set just outside the city. A Malaysian Journey (1993) is an engaging insight into modern Malaysia. Written by an ex-pat Malaysian journalist, Rehman Rashid, it is the story of his return to his native country. The story follows his travels around Malaysia, examining a plethora of issues as he goes and culminating in his emotive return to modern Kuala Lumpur. Steve and Lee Bristow's Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur (1994) examines Chinatown's eclectic history and boasts some excellent photographs. Also delving deep into Malaysia's intriguing past is the Malayan Trilogy (1984) by Anthony Burgess, where the author examines the state of post-war Malaysia and its struggle towards independence from Britain in 1957. For a general historic overview of Malaysian history, Jim Baker's Crossroads - A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore (1999) is comprehensive and easy to digest, compared to some of the more scholarly studies of Malaysian history. Giving a unique insight into the most powerful man in Malaysia, the retired Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Mohamad handed over power to his deputy in 2003 after an epic 22 years as Prime Minister), is his own Voices of Asia (1995), which looks at his pro-Asian views and his controversial opinions on the world economy and where it should be heading. Stephen Lee's Outside Looking In - Kuala Lumpur (2000) is a collection of photographs taken at the end of the 1990s that encapsulate life in the city.