A Brief History of Thailand: Monarchy, War and Resilience: The Fascinating Story of the Gilded Kingdom at the Heart of Asia - Paperback

by Richard A. Ruth (Author)

Thailand is known for its picturesque beaches and famous temples, but there's much more to this popular holiday destination than many realize.

• The true story of Anna Leonowens, the British governess hired to teach the children of King Mongkut, fictionalized in Margaret Landon's bestselling novel Anna and the King of Siam and turned into a hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and film, The King and I
• The bloodless Siamese Revolution of 1932 that established overnight the first constitutional monarchy in Asia, ending almost eight centuries of absolute rule and creating a democratic system of parliamentary government
• The Japanese invasion of Thailand and construction of the "Bridge Over the River Kwai" made famous by the novel and Oscar-winning film
• The mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol, murdered in his bed in 1946, and a source of controversy ever since
• The development of Thailand as an international playground during the Vietnam War, when American military used it as rowdy destination for servicemen on furlough
• The 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, who was born in the U.S., educated in Switzerland, loved to play the saxophone and was idolized by his people

Author Biography

Richard A. Ruth is a professor of Southeast Asian history in the United States. He holds two Master's degrees in History and Asian Studies, as well as a Ph.D. in History from Cornell. He worked in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for several years in non-governmental aid organizations (NGOs), and later became a research assistant in Yale University's Cambodian Genocide Project. He is the author of In Buddha's Company: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War.