Chariot of the Sun: an Informal History of a Siamese Family

by Shane Bunnag

A journey into the labyrinth of the Thai past, following spectres and vanished landmarks across present day Bangkok.

Chariot of the Sun relates the story of Siam to that of the author’s family, the Bunnags; who came from Persia in the early 17th century and through daring, cunning and good fortune were to hold commanding positions of power during the 19th century.

Shane Bunnag follows the narrative thread of an ancient prophecy, a taboo subject that has long haunted Bangkok, in his exploration of the past.
Rather than a straightforward historical account, Chariot of the Sun is a genre-bending time-warp that pulls us into a compelling family drama, intertwining a candid and humorous diary with ancient chronicles ripe with violence, mythology, folklore and intrigue.

The book becomes an excavation of submerged histories, an investigation into the nature of national identity, and offers a uniquely lyrical approach to storytelling that is both historically nuanced and emotionally stirring.

“Chariot of the Sun is a rich and deeply personal telling of a Siamese family’s history through ‘a labyrinth of memory’. Part history and part memoir, it is story-telling that revels in the fragmentary and the anecdotal. A beautifully written account that skillfully weaves stories of renewal, reinvention and continuity.”
~ Nic Dunlop, author of The Lost Executioner-The story of Comrade Duch and the Khmer Rouge

“Shane Bunnag’s artful merging of text and photographs creates an alternative history of Thailand laced with nostalgia and laden with stories – an evocative, dream-like foray into the past that is both enchanting and enlightening.”

~ Emma Larkin, author of Finding George Orwell in Burma
“Chariot of the Sun is a literary work that transcends national and personal narratives. Shane has created an original and poetic story, underscored with a sense of disquiet.”
~ Veeraporn Nitiprapha, author of The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth

295 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Edwin Pietersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book after seeing the author explain it at the Siam Society here in Bangkok. It is written by Shane Bunnag, a distant member of the Bunnag family, raised in England - mentioning how his father was a bit of a black sheep - and Greece, and moved to Thailand a few years ago to learn more about this part of his identity.
This book is an extent to that, as Shane tries to understand his own family and the role it played in Siamese history, which is, as any scholar on Thailand knows, a quite prominent one. It is a wonderful story of which we know so little, but so speaks to the imagination how a Persian trader could create such a legacy here in Thailand.
With the limited sources that Shane has, he tries to recreate such a history, but at the same time tries to cross over in fiction and wonder. Often, he relates it to his personal views on history, culture, Thailand, and on the notions on how to come to terms with his own family. It reminds me almost of Edward van Waal's Hare with the Amber Eyes, which is also an example of personalized history/semi-fictionalized history to confer the feelings and linger notions that one has about the past, rather than try to sketch that academic-like picture. However, because it is so personal, I feel that the author has left out an important aspect: that critical reflection upon himself. He shares about the past, but very little about himself. He sometimes mentions things about his father, but that history is also omitted mostly. This creates somewhat of a tension, as this history is so vital to understand the dynamics of the author himself in the family, or perhaps even about the general dynamics in the family today.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire Shane Bunnag enormously for researching and writing this interesting narrative around his historically important family. A most challenging task, since reliable contemporary accounts and official documentation are notoriously hard to come by in Thailand. Understandably, therefore, he focuses on those components of his family which are well documented or relatable by the few family members that have taken an interest in their ancestry and who are still around to pass on their knowledge.

My impression is that the author prefers the softer, more contemplative aspects of family history. The houses of his ancient and more recent ancestors receive great attention (and are both fascinating and depressing, given how these wonderful heritage buildings have largely long been buried beneath shopping malls or highways). He clearly has great memories and tales of his Thai grandparents, yet spends scant time on his father or his current extended family.

I loved the read, but it left me with many unanswered questions, and a feeling that some things were unsaid that perhaps should have been discussed.

[Nikko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary book. The writing is exquisite, the tone elegiac. It is the story of a nation told through the lens of a fascinating family. Interweaving the past and present - a device that in other books can be tiring, but here adds layers of depth and insight - this is a book I kept putting down to send messages to friends to tell them to go and get it. Highly recommended.

[Christine Hall]

Shane Bunnag is a Thai‑Irish visual artist, filmmaker, and writer. He is Thai on his father’s side (House of Bunnag) and Irish on his mother’s side, raised in Europe, educated in Scotland, and now lives and works in Thailand, while exhibiting and collaborating internationally as an artist and writer.

[Hugh Hsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, super informal history. It felt like the author was trying to catalogue his families stories. It was a nice perspective to see.