Decoding Laos: Travels in 21st Century Laos with Echoes from the Past

by Richard Taylor

Laos has been an enigma for centuries. Remote, stunning scenery and a rich melting pot of cultures, it is not surprising it has become a top tourist destination. To curious visitors, Laos’ history and culture can be hard to access, as little is written about the country and even less about the state has made it into the international sphere. Decoding Laos is a journey through the country’s various regions and looks at the people and events that have shaped the nation over the last twenty years. Laos’ position on the crossroads of Asia again places it at the centre of international events and understanding how Laos will face some of these challenges has relevance beyond just to those who visit the reclusive nation.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2019

About the author

Richard Taylor is a professor of English and currently serves as Kenan Visiting Writer at Transylvania University. A former Kentucky poet laureate, he is the author of six collections of poetry, two novels, and several books of non-fiction, mostly relating to Kentucky history. A former dean and teacher in the Governor's Scholars Program, he was selected as Distinguished Professor at Kentucky State University in 1992. He has won two creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Al Smith Creative Writing Award from the Kentucky Arts Council. He and his wife Lizz own Poor Richard's Books in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Reviews

[MsSwisis · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘To me, these are the last vestiges of old Asia that my grandparents’ storybooks were filled with, and the stories of adventure that took place there.’