Four Reigns

This is a great translation of Kukrit Pramoj's work about the quintessential Thai story of Mae Ploy. This story is so popular that it continues to spawn new movies, dramas, and plays every few years in Thailand. This engaging historical novel is a celebration of Thai culture, an exploration of the tensions between old and new ideas, and is a foundation for understanding the importance of the royal family in Thailand. Of course since a male wrote a story about a lead female character, chauvinistic expectations of females have been integrated into the sometimes too willing personality of Mae Ploy, but overall the story is still varied and has enough action to keep the reader engaged. This book is a must read for all students or any enthusiasts of Thai history, language, or culture.

I first purchased this book when living in Thailand, and have re-read it on several occasions since. It's a fascinating story of families, royalty, and life "back in the day". Even if you know nothing of Thailand, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. But if you have some interest in, or knowledge of Thailand, you will really love it.This is a very ineloquent review, but this book is really special. Highly recommend.

A classic book of life in the Thai imperial court. This is historical fiction, but all the major historical events depicted in the book are based on what actually happened so it's a nice review of 20th century Thai history. The writing is quite good, and the story centering on a few main characters held my interest.

This is a worthwhile read for anyone wanting insight into Thai history or Thai culture the same way as "Little House on the Prairie" should be required reading for anyone studying 19th Century American history.I liked the book, but it is an intense read, and it isn't all that upbeat from a western perspective. There is a lot of sadness associated with the passage of time, and as an epic spanning the reign of four kings of Thailand, there is ample opportunity to see this in this work.I have never attempted to read even parts of the work in its original language, but I was entertained to see the another review saying that the content was much different. While this may well be the case, the book is certainly worth reading.

The book is exactly as advertised & arrived promptly. Thank you.

Preparing for Thailand, attempted to wade through this classic. Attempted. Shallow characters and turgid prose.

Set in Thailand (Siam) during the period of the reigns of Rama V, VI, VII, and VIII, the Four Reigns follows the life of Phloi from childhood in the late 1800's to her death in 1946. Through her story, the history and culture of Thailand during this period are revealed.It is an engaging read in which I found myself both crying and laughing at various points. I read Four Reigns while touring Thailand in January 2012; it greatly enhanced my experience.

It is a great novel as an introduction to Thailand and Thai history.