Bangkok : The Story of a City

by Alec Waugh

A fluent and affectionate portrait not only of the city of Bangkok, known to the Thais as 'the city of angels', but also of the dynasty and culture that created it. Cutting through confusion and veiled mystery. Waugh unravels the plots, coups, wars, assassinations, invasions, and counter-coups of two hundred years of history as if they were this evening's gossip. This description of the genius, fascination, and enduring vitality of Bangkok is told with Waugh's customary delight in life and sensual appreciation.

Paperback

Published January 1, 1990

About the author

Born Alexander Raban Waugh to Arthur Waugh, author, literary critic, and publisher. He was the elder brother of the better-known Evelyn Waugh. His third wife was Virginia Sorenson, author of the Newbery Medal-winning Miracles on Maple Hill.

Waugh was educated at Sherborne School, a public school in Dorset, from where he was expelled. The result of his experiences was his first, semi-autobiographical novel, The Loom of Youth (1917), clearly inspired by The Harrovians (1931) by Arnold Lunn, and so controversial at the time (it openly mentioned homosexual activities between boys) that Waugh remains the only former pupil to be expelled from the old boys society (The Old Shirburnian Society). It was also a best seller.

Waugh went on to a career as a successful author, although never as successful or innovative as his younger brother. He lived much of his life overseas, in exotic places such as Tangier - a lifestyle made possible by his second marriage, to a rich Australian. His 1957 novel Island in the Sun was a best-seller, as was his 1973 novel, A Fatal Gift.

He also published In Praise of Wine & Certain Noble Spirits (1959), an amusing and discursive guide to the major wine types, and Wines and Spirits , a 1968 book in the Time-Life series Foods of the World.

Waugh is said to have invented the cocktail party when active in the 1920s London social life and served rum swizzles to astonished friends who thought they had come for tea. Within eighteen months, early evening drinks had become a widespread social entertainment.

Waugh also has a footnote in the history of reggae music. The success of the film adaptation of Island in the Sun and the Harry Belafonte title track provided inspiration as well as the name for the highly successful Island Records record label.
(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Nia Nymue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book thoroughly from the moment I picked it up in my hotel room when I was staying in Bangkok itself, for the first time.

I managed about a quarter of it in my stay of 4 days, and had the book ordered from Amazon when I returned to Singapore.

I do agree with the two other reviewers that it seems to be a little too much like a history of the royal family, especially for the first 80% of the book, but I enjoyed the storytelling - much as I wonder how much of it is real and how much is romanticised - and it has given me a greater appreciation for how Bangkok has come to be the way that it is.

The questions that Abigail Hansen posted, to get her students to think further about historical figure, are excellent food for thought.

[Abigail Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The written work of Alec Waugh on Bangkok in my opinion was the best I have read so far on the capital of Thailand. Most historical writers I've read modern books on, spew out names and dates without delving into the actual culture and sympathies that come with it. This writer takes into consideration the culture and ideas behind why some events have happened within the time period. The writer also invites the reader into a deeper thought process and understanding of the people written within it. Waugh does not just start stating historical moments brought on from political spheres, combative actions or of competition and International involvement. Real people and their motives are being explored in the way of telling a story rather than listing coldly the content.

Because of the author's notes and overall tone, I was able to engage with the history itself rather than just feel the distance of an observer. The author begins the first chapter with a Thai Myth. “It began with a quarrel about white elephants”, this quarrel being the one that started what could arguably be one of the most important military exchanges within the history of Thailand. In a time when they were only known as the Siamese, Thailand’s capital Ayudhya came under attack by the Burmese (a people who had eventually been semi absorbed into the main Thailand culture and land). This Warfare continued on for 300 years. What has been the start of the war was said to have been the argument between the King of Siam and the King of Burma. As said before, white elephants were involved. The King of Siam was said to have seven white elephants and the King of Burma wished to possess one. The King of Siam refused his request of such a gift. These mythical stories layer the book bringing a flavor of the Thai people along with it. Thailand has a long, intricate, and to a certain extent bloody history. How one died when labeled a traitor was not always as simple as the guillotine. Such details of historical monarchs, interlopers from around the world coming to Thailand to trade, cultural habits, all of these are listed with sympathy to both parties involved.

The reason that I chose this book was because of a predominant Western worldview that colors most classic works taught within public school. Many people within the United States, young or old, do not realize the historical foothold and trade that we continue to carry on with Thailand even till today. Many of the traditions of Thailand have been kept, while many of the more modern additions to their society are a direct influence of our own. Acknowledgement of such a nation is necessary in order to remain abreast with a moving worldview rather than a stagnant worldview centered on our own selves rather than the joint whole. As Americans we form a combination of the world, so the chances of being able to meet and talk to someone from Thailand are very real. Cultural awareness is necessary to the well-roundedness of an individual to begin with. Acknowledging others and their differences and celebrating in those differences is a way to support one another to create understanding rather than misunderstanding.

Some questions I would have my students consider and answer:

If the book was split up between four sections which section beginning, middle, or end would you say you most enjoyed?
What was one cultural value that the Thai held that you yourself also hold?
How has your opinion, if you had one beforehand of the Thai people, developed or changed with the reading of this book; and do you wish to learn more about these people?
Are you now more interested about other countries and the culture and traditions they have?
Were you surprised about the amount of foreign involvement with their country?
Were you surprised about their viewpoint of slavery and how do you feel in relation to our own history they have outdone us?
Who was your favorite historical figure read about within this book? Why?
What are your thoughts on Thailand's misrepresentation within the Western world as seen in the play, book, and movie ‘The King and I’?
What other media misrepresentations do you think you have noticed after reading this? Do you feel more ‘woke’ as it were?

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was published in 1970 (new edition fooled me) but feels like it was written in 1870. Alec Waugh is Evelyn's older brother and frankly I found his biography more interesting than this book...but I learned a lot.