The new edition of The King of Thailand in World Focus — is now available from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) office.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX: Great Strength of the Land, ninth king in the Chakri Dynasty, Father of the Nation, peacemaker, Thailand's longest reigning monarch, the world's longest reigning living monarch. Jazz composer, saxophonist, artist, inventor, patent holder, sailor, philanthropist, animal lover, expert in agriculture and irrigation.

Born in Boston and educated in Europe, this is an account of a teenager who ascended the throne in the shadow of tragedy to be confronted by turbulence at home and revolution in neighbouring Indochina. For nearly half a century, King Bhumibol has remained inside Thailand, dedicating himself to the country's poor, and wielding moral authority according to his personal philosophy: Give more, take less.

This book documents a remarkable life through foreign newspaper, magazine and wire service reports as compiled by the FCCT. The original version of The King of Thailand in World Focus was undertaken in 1987 to coincide with King Bhumibol's 60th birthday. It has long been out of print, but remains one of the most insightful and readable works on Thailand's widely revered monarch.

In June 2006, nationwide celebrations marked the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol's accession to the throne, and 5 December 2007 is his 80th birthday. At a much more modest level, the FCCT passed the 50-year mark in 2006. One of the activities undertaken to mark these anniversaries was updating the 1987 royal book.

This new edition of The King of Thailand in World Focus has been expanded, and completely redesigned and reformatted. It includes foreign coverage of the intervening years during which King Bhumibol became the world's longest reigning living monarch. The period has not been plain sailing by any means. The dramatic royal intervention in May 1992 to end political chaos and bloodshed is still dramatically etched on the world's collective imagination. The tense political standoff of 2006, when Thai politicians once again grappled with the fine print of constitutional democracy, ended in September with a bloodless military putsch.

Sixty per cent of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's charities, the remainder to the FCCT's educational funds.

The FCCT member price is 1,200 baht (limit 3 copies) and non-member price is 1,450 baht. Also available at all branches of Asiabooks, B2S, Bookazine and Kinokuniya bookstores for 1,450 baht.

ISBN: 978-974-7348-54-5

Contact information:
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT)
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0) 2652 0580-1
E-mail: fccthai@loxinfo.co.th
Web site: http://www.fccthai.com

Source: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) bulletin