Richard A. Ruth

A Brief History of Thailand offers an engaging look at the country's last 250 years—from coups and violent massacres to the invention of Pad Thai in the 1930s. Listeners will learn the vibrant story of Thailand's emergence as a prosperous Buddhist state, its transformation from traditional kingdom to democratic constitutional monarchy, and its subsequent rise to prominence in Southeast Asian affairs.

Thailand's dramatic history spans centuries of conflict, and this book recounts many of these fascinating episodes, including:

● The bloodless Siamese Revolution of 1932 that established overnight the first constitutional monarchy in Asia

● The Japanese invasion of Thailand and construction of the "Bridge Over the River Kwai"

● The mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol, murdered in his bed in 1946, and a source of controversy ever since

With this book, historian and professor Richard A. Ruth has skillfully crafted an accessible cultural and political history of an understudied nation. Covering events through the King's death in 2016, A Brief History of Thailand will be of interest to students, travelers, and anyone hoping to learn more about this part of the world.

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