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And despite an undercurrent of anger and frustration, he avoids pamphleteering. The narrators, mostly young Thais, are finding their way in an unequal and irrational adult world.Īn acute observer, Rattawut makes a candid and witty tour guide to the darker side of the “land of smiles”. The first-person narration in each of the seven stories immediately draws the reader in, whether it’s about cultural discord, coming of age and the loss of innocence, small-town corruption or social divisions. And in the novella-length Cockfighter, a family is almost torn apart by a father’s obsession with betting, bird-fighting and getting even with the town bully. In Priscilla the Cambodian, a boy learns of the hostility towards migrants. In the poignant title story, a son and his mother, who is rapidly going blind, go on a trip to see their country as tourists. It’s a fresh, provocative take on the country’s beauty and bleakness – without a hint of exoticism. That sets the tone for an east-west culture clash in the opening tale of this lively debut collection of short stories set in contemporary Thailand.

That’s all these people want,” says a hotel owner who caters for farangs (Thai slang for foreigners). Kukrit was something of a renaissance man – Thai prime minister, journalist and newspaper proprietor, Hollywood film actor and classical dancer. And despite being bathed in conservative nostalgia, offers a fascinating insight into the country.įour Reigns is regarded as a classic in Thailand and has often been staged and serialised on TV.

This leisurely paced novel is both intriguing and entertaining. That, along with increasing western influence and the turbulence of the second world war, causes fissures in society that intrude into Phloi’s family.

Traditional Siam is buffeted by historic events at home and abroad – a palace revolution, two world wars, Japanese occupation, allied bombing – as it evolves into modern Thailand.Īfter the absolute monarchs are forced to become constitutional rulers, “the air is thick with politics”. Phloi’s eventful life inside and outside the palace – as daughter, sister, wife and mother – reflects the enormous changes taking place in the country. At the age of 10, Phloi goes to live in the royal palace in Bangkok with her mother, who serves as a minor courtier.