The best book in the world book capital
Play
Celebrating Bangkok's year as World Book Capital, Asia Books set up an exhibition this week at Siam Paragon for "King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work", a biography newly translated as "Klang Chai Rat".
Celebrating Bangkok’s year as World Book Capital, Asia Books set up an exhibition this week at Siam Paragon for “King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work”, a biography newly translated as “Klang Chai Rat”.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officially opened the show of images and other mementoes from more than 60 years of His Majesty’s reign.
More than 30,000 copies of the English-language “A Life’s Work” have been sold, testifying to the King’s international appeal. Narrated through the eyes of an experienced foreign writer, the book contains 400 rarely seen pictures of His Majesty. Asia Books selected Editions Didier Millet to be the sole publisher in Thailand. It also holds the copyright for the Thai version.
Traswin Jittidecharak, editor of the Thai version, was at the exhibition’s opening to discuss its attributes. “The book will surely impress everyone who reads it,” he said. “It is very special and outstanding. The content is simply fun to read, since the writer is a foreigner. The way he writes is just simple, easy to digest, with no boundaries in terms of class, and yet knowledgeable, with a lot of interesting bits.”
“This book tells the truth about His Majesty the King,” added former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, who served as a consultant for both the English and Thai editions.
“It was not written with the purpose of worshipping him. All the content came from facts, and they have been gathered together inside perfectly.
“It is truly a valuable book that everyone should read. Upon reading it, you’ll get to know more about His Majesty and the royal institution from a different and yet interesting view of a writer who cherishes truth and accuracy more than anything.”
