Bangkok: A Cultural History (Cityscapes)

Bangkok: A Cultural History (Cityscapes) by O'Neil, Maryvelma. Paperback edition. ISBN: 9780195342529.

In this vibrant cultural history, Maryvelma ONeil takes us on an engaging tour of Bangkok, revealing the rich ancient heritage of this fascinating city. The capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, Bangkok stands out as a place of extraordinary allure. Beginning as a floating city in a lush tropical setting, known to foreigners as the "Venice of the East," its majestic Grand Palace and glittering Buddhist temples today compete with chimneystacks and a jungle of skyscrapers. ONeil illuminates a city rich in art, history, royal ceremony, and tradition and she uncovers fascinating pockets of traditional indigenous life and places of intense beauty hidden in Bangkoks labyrinthine lanes and alleys.