Picture 1 of 3
The King Never Smiles : A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej by Paul M.
Condition:
Postage:
Located in: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Thu, 9 May and Mon, 13 May to 43230
Returns:
Coverage:
Read item description or contact seller for details. See all detailsSee all details on coverage
(Not eligible for eBay purchase protection programmes)
Seller information
- 100% positive feedback
Registered as a Business Seller
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:375196379371
Item specifics
- Condition
- Country/Region of Manufacture
- Thailand
- ISBN
- 9780300106824
- Book Title
- King Never Smiles : a Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej
- Item Length
- 0.9in
- Publisher
- Yale University Press
- Publication Year
- 2006
- Format
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Item Height
- 0.2in
- Genre
- Biography & Autobiography, Religion
- Topic
- Buddhism / General (See Also Philosophy / Buddhist), General
- Item Width
- 0.6in
- Item Weight
- 31.3 Oz
- Number of Pages
- 448 Pages
About this product
Product Information
The first independent biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose image as a benign Buddhist god-king masked one of the world's most politically powerful thrones "One of the most important books on Thailand to appear in English."--Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, the only king ever born in the United States, came to the throne of his country in 1946 and at the time of his death, in October 2016, was the world's longest serving monarch. The King Never Smiles , the first independent biography of Thailand's monarch, tells the unexpected story of Bhumibol's life and sixty-year rule--how a Western-raised boy came to be seen by his people as a living Buddha, and how a king widely seen as beneficent and apolitical could in fact be so deeply political and autocratic. Paul Handley provides an extensively researched, factual account of the king's youth and personal development, ascent to the throne, skillful political maneuverings, and attempt to shape Thailand as a Buddhist kingdom. Handley takes full note of Bhumibol's achievements in art, in sports and jazz, and he credits the king's lifelong dedication to rural development and the livelihoods of his poorest subjects. But, looking beyond the widely accepted image of the king as egalitarian and virtuous, Handley portrays an anti-democratic monarch who, together with allies in big business and the corrupt Thai military, has protected a centuries-old, barely modified feudal dynasty. When at nineteen Bhumibol assumed the throne, the Thai monarchy had been stripped of power and prestige. Over the ensuing decades, Bhumibol became the paramount political actor in the kingdom, silencing critics while winning the hearts and minds of his people. The book details this process and depicts Thailand's unique constitutional monarch--his life, his thinking, and his ruling philosophy.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Yale University Press
ISBN-10
0300106823
ISBN-13
9780300106824
eBay Product ID (ePID)
50578458
Product Key Features
Book Title
King Never Smiles : a Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Topic
Buddhism / General (See Also Philosophy / Buddhist), General
Publication Year
2006
Genre
Biography & Autobiography, Religion
Number of Pages
448 Pages
Dimensions
Item Length
0.9in
Item Height
0.2in
Item Width
0.6in
Item Weight
31.3 Oz
Additional Product Features
Lc Classification Number
Ds586.H36 2006
Reviews
"Widely regarded as the definitive biography."-Michael Sullivan, Senior Asia Correspondent, National Public Radio, "Little wonder that before Paul Handley no one had really pried into the king's sleeping habits, let alone the state of his marriage or political views. The story he uncovers is fascinating."-- Economist "A new and comprehensive history of the Thai modern monarchy . . . [which] presents a direct counterpoint to years of methodical royal image-making."--Jane Perlez, The Sunday Telegraph "A significant contribution to the sparse literature on Bhumibol. . . . Highly recommended."-- Choice "A critique of the world's longest reigning monarch and his machinations for domination at the cost of scruples. It unveils the throne's self-protecting alliances with army bosses, drug dealers, bankers, monopolists, and the C.I.A., and evaluates the long-term damage done to Thai politics by the king's obsession for controlling state and society."--Sreeram Chaulia, Worldpress.org "Handley, an American journalist who reported from Bangkok for many years, has written one of the most important books on Thailand to appear in English."--Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books "This work is essential to understanding Thailand's modern political history and, particularly, the latest coup. Just as important, and perhaps more ominous, the book raises questions about how Thailand will adjust to its first real change in government in more than 60 years without the leadership of the 79-year-old king."--Major Dewayne Creamer, Proceedings/U.S. Naval Institute "The first serious biography of perhaps the most important figure in modern Thai history."--James Ockey, Pacific Affairs "Written by a journalist who resided in the Kingdom for thirteen years, it is exceptionally well written and reflects a deep knowledge of Thai politics and history. . . . The King Never Smiles is a daring, landmark work, clearly based on extensive research, which deserves much praise. It joins a small but growing body of proactive literature relating to kingship and politics in Thailand today and is certainly the most critical of anything previously published. As such it should compel future writers on Thailand to pay heed to the contemporary role of monarchy in Thai culture, society and politics."--P.W. Chambers, Contemporary Southeast Asia "Widely regarded as the definitive biography."--Michael Sullivan, Senior Asia Correspondent, National Public Radio, "Handley, an American journalist who reported from Bangkok for many years, has written one of the most important books on Thailand to appear in English."--Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books
Copyright Date
2006
Target Audience
Trade
Lccn
2005-033009
Dewey Decimal
959.304/4
Dewey Edition
23/Eng/20231211
Item description from the seller
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:375196379371
Postage and handling
Item location:
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Post to:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan Republic, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon Republic, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Croatia, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Excludes:
Barbados, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Libya, Martinique, New Caledonia, Reunion, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Venezuela
| Postage and handling | To | Service | Delivery*See Delivery notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US $4.13 (approx S$ 5.57) | United States | Economy Postage (USPS Media MailTM) | Estimated between Thu, 9 May and Mon, 13 May to 43230 |
| Handling time |
|---|
| Will usually post within 3 business days of receiving cleared payment. |
| Taxes |
|---|
| Taxes may be applicable at checkout. Learn moreLearn more about paying tax on eBay purchases. |
Sales Tax for an item #375196379371
Sales Tax for an item #375196379371
Seller collects sales tax for items shipped to the following states:
| State | Sales Tax Rate |
|---|
Return policy
| Return policy details |
|---|
| The seller will not accept returns for this item. |
Seller feedback (11)
o***c (1988)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
Verified purchase
Super Fast Shipping!!! Best Seller on eBay!!!
j***j (557)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
Verified purchase
Great condition and fast shipping. Thanks!
y***6 (1793)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
Verified purchase
Fast shipping thanks