Who: Mr Allaster Cox, 63, is the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore. The avid reader has had a long career in foreign affairs, working mainly on and in South-east Asia, with postings in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Australian High Commission and the Singapore Film Society will be presenting the Australian Film Festival from June 26 to July 6. For more details, go to str.sg/ctfU

“My fiction reading tends to flow from my interest in history – particularly 20th-century history. I also like books that are redolent with good character development.

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