A century ago, northern Thailand (or Siam as it was then known) was home to small communities of Westerners, many of them British diplomats and foresters (like Reginald Le May and Reginald Campbell) or American missionaries (like Lucy Starling and Mary Lou O'Brien). Though few in number, they left behind a considerable written legacy. The writing is invariably personal and often vivid, describing their hopes and aspirations, the challenges they faced in their work and daily lives, and their attachment to this enchanted land. This book makes a selection of that writing accessible to a wide readership, much of it for the first time. The texts are illustrated by 65 evocative photographs, many of them contemporary. AUTHOR: Graham Jeffcoat was born in England and studied English in Library Science in Cambridge and London. He has spent much of his adult life abroad, now a retired librarian living in Chang Mai. He took an increasing interest in Thailand when he became Head of Early Printed Collections at the British Library in London in1997, even becoming a member of the committee of the Anglo Thai Society. In recent years, he has become interested in the life of the Anglo-American community in Chang Mai and the north of Thailand before the Pacific War and gave lectures and worship workshops from his research search at Payap University. SELLING POINTS: . An anthology of rare writings by Westerners working, living or travelling in Northern Thailand . Insightful observations and revelations about both the ex pat and local communities . Unseen texts appearing in print only once before, often over 100 years ago
