Lao Royalty's engagement in all the major events of the country in the last century forms a rich and complex narrative. But with the 1975 communist revolution this history tell into oblivion and has all but disappeared from public memory.
The Last Century of Lao Royalty recovers this history by presenting a wealth of rare documents and photographs that bring to life the political, social, and cultural activities of the members of the royal families. It provides a thoroughly unique perspective on the role of lao royalty in the modern story of the nation. Royalty was, in fact, a force for moderation, modernization, and democracy during the period of the Royal Lao Government(1947 - 1975). The last king, King Sisavang Vathana, for instance, refused to give his imprimatur to a military dictatorship because he was so doggedly committed to constitutional rule. naturally, there were some aristocratic royals who remained deeply conservative, but others joined forces with radical revolutionaries.
The book begins with a comprehensive historical introduction, followed by short essays on specific topics and excerpts culled from newspaper, personal letters, official reports, and a variety of other sources. Accompanying these is a rare selection of photographs of Lao royalty and royal occasions collected from individuals and archives around the world. This is no royalist hagiography, however. Modern Lao royal history is presented in all of its complicated convolutions, making this volume a key contribution to our understanding of modern Laos.
Product Details
ISBN: 9789749511664
Publisher: Silkworm Books
Binding: Hardback
Language: English
Pages: 430
Dimension: 21.30 cm x 28.70 cm
Weight: 1.8 kg
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The Last Century of Lao Royalty
