Four Reigns [Paperback]

Kukrit Pramoj (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This English version of the Thai novel Si Phaendin tells the rich and entertaining story of one woman's life both inside and outside the royal palace in Bangkok. Spanning a period of four reigns, from King Chulalongkorn to the reign of his grandson King Ananda, this popular modern classic gives insight into the social and political issues facing Thailand from the 1890s through the turbulent years of World War II. "Kukrit, famous as a journalist, wit, connoisseur of the arts, and, for much of his life, a politician, and once the prime minister. . . is also a world-class writer, equipped with imagination, humor, narrative skill, and keen understanding of human nature."--The New York Review of Books

Product Details

• Paperback: 663 pages
• Publisher: Silkworm Books (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9747100665
• ISBN-13: 978-9747100662
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spirits of Siam, August 17, 2000

By 

Pongsakorn Chindawatana (Dover, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Reigns (Paperback)

Kukrit Pramoj made time machine and let us use it travel to old period of Thailand when it called SIAM. I feels Bangkok in his book is totally difference from Bangkok nowaday.I touches the real Bangkok, Spirits of Siam and learn how Thailand become city of angel. Every of my foriegner friend, read this book, falls deeply in love with Thailand and wish to come to Thailand once...Every places he was described in his book is the real places and still enchanting till nowaday. If you like to learn more about Thailand..Background of Thai people..and if you like to getting into the center of Spirits of Siam..take this book and place it close to your pillow..lie down and start to read...when you realise time maybe pass so quickly and it's morning... Kukrit Pramoj passaway many years ago..but His book last forever..

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Novel of Siam!, January 29, 2005

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Four Reigns (Paperback)

This is an English translation of the "Four Reigns". It is a very good tranlslation and very loyal to the Thai. I think one of the reviewers hasn't thought about the differences in how Thai is written and English is used in literature. English language readers may expect more elaboration than readers in Thai do. I read this book as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand in the early 90's. It was a good way to access and understand better the history of Siam. I personally loved the book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, August 19, 2005

By 

Gnome de Plum - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Four Reigns (Paperback)

This is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting insight into Thai history or Thai culture the same way as "Little House on the Prairie" should be required reading for anyone studying 19th Century American history.

I liked the book, but it is an intense read, and it isn't all that upbeat from a western perspective. There is a lot of sadness associated with the passage of time, and as an epic spanning the reign of four kings of Thailand, there is ample opportunity to see this in this work.

I have never attempted to read even parts of the work in its original language, but I was entertained to see the another review saying that the content was much different. While this may well be the case, the book is certainly worth reading.