Description
Book SynopsisThe Last Siamese: Heroes in War and Peace tells the life stories of 12 exceptional characters from Thailand or Siam between the 1900s and 1960s. Engaging and rich in detail, they are tales full of adventure, courage and adversity, offering lessons in leadership, resolve and unselfishness. Among them are profiles of So Sethabutra, a political prisoner in the 1930s who spent his time in captivity writing Thailand's first Thai-English dictionary; Khamsing Srinawk, a provocative writer from the countryside who sought exile in Sweden; Colonel Vicha Dhitavadhana, whose military career led him to work for the Nazis; and Prince Bira, the debonair Grand Prix racing champion.
Trade Review"Absorbing, exciting and intelligent." — Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand; "Teddy evokes Siam from the 1900s to the 1960s, through stories of remarkable individuals ... engagingly told with some creative licence to put the humanity into the history. The Last Siamese is a delightful read." —Chris Baker, co-author with Pasuk Phongpaichit of A History of Thailand; "The author presents a set of essays about individuals across the political spectrum ... written to entertain as much as to instruct, as it should be with an expert raconteur like Teddy Spha Palasthira." —Grant Evants, Asian Review of Books; "The Last Siamese shows how personal character can shape history, through the defining events of a dozen charismatic lives. Teddy has a keen eye for the hidden details of history and has written a charming book." —Philip Cornwel-Smith, author of Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture; "Teddy's latest book offers sketches of 12 different figures... What he says about them will come as a revelation. Overall, the book presents a portrait of a turbulent era, one in which Thailand underwent many changes. I enjoyed it tremendously." —William Warren, author of Jim Thompson: The Legendary American
Table of Contents* So Sethaputra: How to write a dictionary in prison * LUANG Pibul: Pibul's gold * Nai Lert: The Victorian Siamese * Chamkad Balangura: A hero's journey * M.L. Pravas Choomsai: The courageous aviator * Captain Dennis: Hercules to the rescue * Prince Subha Svasti: The first Free Thai * Dr. Smarn Muntarbhorn: Anatomy of a fighting surgeon * Colonel Vicha Dhitavadhna: An officer in the Nazi army * Boonpong Sirivejjapan: The merchant of V. * Prince Bira: The three lives of a champion * Khamsing Srinawk: An Isan in Stockholm
