Abstract

William Warren’s Bangkok is an informal portrait of this most vibrant and perplexing of modern cities. Divided into two parts, the first is a selective history, showing how Bangkok has developed over the last 200 years, while the second explores the contemporary face of the city through a series of personal impressions.

The author explains how the charms of Bangkok and its people outweigh the disadvantages of pollution, traffic and stifling heat. He also introduces celebrities, such as the early kings of Thailand’s present dynasty and Anna Leonowens, heroine of The King and I, as well as Jim Thompson, the US-born silk entrepreneur and art collector who mysteriously vanished in the jungles of Malaysia.

Bangkok provides a much needed history of the city, but is also imbued with the warmth of Warren’s love affair with its frenetic way of life.
If you've been [to Bangkok], but came away feeling you didn't get as far under its skin as you would have liked, or if you are going and want to know more than the price of fake watches and bar girls, read Warren for a view from the inside of this fascinating place' -The Sunday Times 'With his very adroit use of historical sources, his straightforward view, his wit and lucid style, [Warren] has written the best book available about one of the most winningly contradictory cities in the world' - The Japan Times 'Warren's observations of the contemporary city are spot-on' - Far Eastern Economic Review
William Warren was born in the southern USA, and has lived in Bangkok since 1959. He has written many books on Thailand, from gardens to Thai arts, crafts and cuisine, and also a biography of Jim Thompson.