EnviroSpin Watch

Now for Philip's other academic life.....

Apologies for some blatant self-publicity, but my latest book has just been published, first in Thailand, and then in London. This book derives from my 'other academic life', from my long-standing interest in the historical geography of Southeast Asia, especially of Thailand. But this is a rather special book, not because of me, I must add, but because it introduces to the world 17 quite wonderful early-19th Century Siamese maps of Southeast Asia first discovered in The Grand Palace, Bangkok, in 1996. The task of bringing these to the world has, somewhat dauntingly, been allotted to a Thai geographer, Dr Santanee Phasuk, and to yours truly by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.

If you love maps, this book is a must, simply because of the exquisite illustrations of these extraordinary and immensely rare examples of Siamese cartography. It has been a privilege to have been able to have worked with Dr. Santanee on such treasures and on the book, which has been lovingly put together by the dedicated publisher.

The full details from River Books in Thailand are here: Royal Siamese Maps. War and Trade in Nineteenth Century Thailand, with a Foreward by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. By Santanee Phasuk and Philip Stott. 210 pages, 300 x 245 mm, hardback. Over 300 colour illustrations. ISBN 974 8225 94. Bangkok and London: River Books, 2004.

I must accordingly apologise if there is a short lacuna in my more normal blogging activities - I have been busy launching the book.

Philip, charting the way!