Van Vliet's Siam

by Chris Baker (Editor), Dhiravat na Pomberja (Editor), Alfons van der Kraan (Editor), David K. Wyatt (Editor)

Overview

The most detailed, fascinating, and lively account of old Siam was written by the Dutch merchant Jeremias Van Vliet between 1636 and 1640. This volume includes all four of his writings in English translation: the earliest surviving chronicle of Siam's history; a wide-ranging description of the kingdom's geography, economy, society, politics, and religion; a blow-by-blow account of a bloody power struggle over the crown; and the Dutchman's diary during a crisis — the Picnic Incident — published here for the first time. The editors add new details on Van Vliet's life, the Dutch community, the city of Ayutthaya, and the court of King Prasat Thong, which set this ordinary merchant's extraordinary literary work into its context of time and place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789749575819
Publisher:	Silkworm Books
Publication date:	08/11/2005
Pages:	356
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Chris Baker is co-author of Thailand: Economy and Politics and A History of Thailand. Dhiravat na Pombejra teaches history at Chulalongkorn University. Alfons van der Kraan teaches in the School of Economics, University of New England, Australia. David K. Wyatt is John Stambaugh Professor Emeritus of History at Cornell University.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction: Ayutthaya, King Prasat Thong, the Dutch and Jeremias van Vliet

The Written Works of Jeremias van Vliet

—Diary of the Picnic Incident (1636-37) / Translated and edited by Alfons van der Kraan

—Description of the Kingdom of Siam (1638) / Translated by L. F. van Ravenswaay, edited by Chris Baker

—The Short History of the Kings of Siam (1640) / Translated by Leonard Andaya, edited by David K. Wyatt

—Historical Account of King Prasat Thong (1640) / Translated by Alfons van der Kraan, edited by Dhiravat na Pombejra and Chris Baker

Appendices

I. Structure of Government

II. Table of Kings

III. Dynastic Tree

IV. Yamada Nagamasa

Glossary

Bibliography

Index