Stalking the Elephant Kings: In Search of Laos

by Christopher Kremmer

Twenty years after the Indochina wars, Christopher Kremmer visited Laos - at the crossroads of change in Southeast Asia. He started his journey in the tranquility of Luang Prabang, once the royal capital. But despite its ancient culture and stately airs, the town - like Laos itself - is a place of secrets, mysteries and nagging questions. Setting off in search of the lost royal family, a 600-year-old dynasty consumed by the violent troubles of the 1960s and 1970s, the author reveals a small land-locked corner of Asia struggling to come to terms with the legacies of the American war and Asian communism. This is travel with a mission and it takes the author deep into Laos - to the bomb craters and enigmatic stone containers of the Plain of Jars, the brooding caves and limestone peaks of Houaphan near the Lao border with Vietnam, and the southern provinces bordering Cambodia. Stalking the Elephant Kings tells the story of a Southeast Asian revolution and its tragic consequences. Based on extensive travel inside Laos and exhaustive research abroad, the book reveals new details of the fate of one of Asia's oldest monarchies, and is an illuminating look at how politics can affect a country's culture. A must for both the student and the traveller, it provides a contemporary portrait of a country which will play a key role in the future of Indochina, as well as a glimpse of its secret history.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Asia, History

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Weavre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I set it aside temporarily for more exciting fare. So far (about a third of the way in?) it's offered a little too much dry history in the form of names and summaries that lack pageantry and story. No memorable characters have emerged at all, sadly including even the author/narrator. I pulled the book because I knew little about Laos despite having a handful of distant cousins adopted from there, and I like reading about unfamiliar places. So far, though, Stalking the Elephant Kings hasn't brought a single bit of the country to life for me, though, preferring to list a parade of dead facts and sere summaries of what were, perhaps, actually quite interesting adventures when first experienced.

[CAMERON · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this after "Bamboo Palace", which is really the same book, updated. This one is more a list of facts, while the other is more complete and readable.
Still "Elephant Kings" is essential reading for anyone interested in Indo-Chinese political history.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book because my library didn't have the Christopher Kremmer book that I REALLY wanted, Bamboo Palace - Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos. (I'm reading books about Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia in preparation for my photo tour there next month.)

This book was a little hard to understand, but gave me a little bit of insight into the political upheaval in Laos during the 1970s, as the author travels around the country trying to get people to divulge the secret of what happened to the Lao royal family.

My favorite part was the descriptions of the Pok Au caves, in which the Pathet Lao built practically an entire town, complete with conference center and villa. It's one of the places I may get to visit on my tour, so I'm glad to know a little bit about what events happened there. The deposed king of Laos was held under house arrest in one of the cave villas (or maybe it was a villa close to the caves).

Either way, very cool. Hope I can get some pictures. (What does a villa in a cave look like?)

[Steve Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as I did because of the personal connection,having lived in Laos for 13 years now.I have shared much of the author's experience in all of the places he visited, all of his description is a very accurate portrayal of the place and the people; and particularly the regime-both of them. Some very interesting facts, revelations here for me. Some questions I have always had have been answered. Without the connection however it would have just been an average piece of writing about an extraordinary place. A good read for anyone who lives here or has lived here.

[Kate]

Very dry and found difficult to get through.

[Melina Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

useful and helpful overview of Luang Prabang's last king.

[Michelle]

so far...meh.