Consul in Paradise

Seventy-Four Years in Siam

W. A. R. Wood

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Hardback

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English

Souvenir Press Ltd
01 March 2018

Asian history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Classic travel writing

Consul in Paradise describes a life full of interest, and a world that is now long past. Embracing all of Siamese life we discover a racing stable with just one pony and Siam expertise in beetle fighting, the Siamese language and etiquette, and the nuances between the mountain tribes. It relates a distant period of diplomacy, a time when Wood’s duties could include concocting love potions, exorcising evil spirits (at one time from a rice bin), and creating huge straw hats to protect elephants from sunstroke. This evocative portrait of a corner of the British Empire, an entertaining encounter between Victorian Britain and Siam, “consists merely of a little of the froth collected by a cork which has floated for 68 years on the seas of Siamese and Anglo-Siamese life”.

By: W. A. R. Wood
Imprint: Souvenir Press Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions: Height: 217mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 11mm
Weight: 235g
ISBN: 9780285643697
ISBN 10: 028564369X
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 01 March 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

William Alfred Rae Wood was appointed in 1896 by Queen Victoria appointed as a Consular Officer in Siam (now Thailand). He spent 69 years in the country, rising to become British Consul-General. During World War II, Wood was interned as an enemy alien. He also wrote one of the first histories of Thailand, A History of Siam. He died in 1970.

Reviews for Consul in Paradise: Seventy-Four Years in Siam

But it is the froth one remembers -- New York Times * . * The book is full of good stories, some funny, some gruesome. What gives it its charm is not Mr. Wood's portrayal of Siam, but his own unconscious portrayal of himself. -- Punch * . *