Siam HIstory books

I forget who was asking, but I found a couple in period while shopping today at a big book store here in Bangkok.

Title: Siam & The West 1500 - 1700
Author: Dirk Van Der Cruysse
ISBN: 974-7551-57-8

This meaty volume clocks in at 475 pages before notes. Has lots of detailed accounts of the interactions between the foreigners and the Siamese court as well as the falling out with the French that occurred in 1688. Have only skimmed but seems a great source book.

Title: Kingdom of Siam 1690
Author: Englebert Kaempfer
ISBN: 974-8299-16-3

A short extract from the author's longer travelogue of his journey to Japan with a dutch trader. Gives a different perspective on the state of Siam post-usurption of the throne in 1688 and the interactions with the French and the Catholics. Not had a chance to review much, but it appears to be a typical travelogue of the period which means that you really need to read the whole thing because it's going to wander over lots of observations and you won't know what's interesting until you read it. For those also interested in Japan, the full manuscript I think is also available which includes the Japan bits which this volume doesn't.

Deacon! You're a Legend! Thanks for this. It was me asking for I'm playing G6 Siam.

Thanks very much!

Happy to oblige. I know I found it hard to find good books, so have appreciated the recommendations of others here. Hard to play period well if you don't know the score.

Was fascinated to learn that it was common custom for the king to become a monk for 6 months during his reign.

Oh, and if you need to execute any royal relatives, you pop them in a velvet bag and beat them to death with sandalwood clubs so no royal blood is spilled.

Gruesome executions were apparently exceedingly common....