South-East Asia
The vast area of South-East Asia, whose complex cultures, even in early times, displayed the harvest of local, Indian and Chinese influences, more recently has been enriched by Islamic and Western arrivals and by growing global awareness. At present, this site contains Michael McKenny's review of three books on the region and of one spectacular film. There is also a valuable link. It is intended, as this site develops, to more fully survey the rich history, literature and spirituality of South-East Asia. Various national histories (including Agoncillo and Guerrero's History of the Filipino People) and literary works await perusal and review. One already read and enjoyed has been the English translation of Sanya Polprasid's The Edge of the Empire. The concept (providing the Thai people with their Aeneid) was grand and the book deserves wider awareness in the English reading world. This section was last updated on April 11, 2008 with rearrangement and categorization of files and minor edits.
I Original Material Translated into English:
1. The Edge of the Empire, Sanya Polprasid's Thai novel connected to the famous Chinese novel San Guo (Three Kingdoms). A Solarguard review of this novel is overdue.
2.
The Legend of Suriyothai brief review of this awesome Thai movie.
II Works About Southeast Asia:
1. Review of
Cambridge History of SouthEast Asia up to 1500.
2.
The Establishment of the European Hegemony 1415-1715 review of J.H. Parry's book on European expansion, including the importance of the Spice Islands.
3.
The Mystical World of Indonesia review of Allen Sievers's 1974 mainly economically focused consideration.
Center for Southeast Asian Studies
University of Hawaii's Center for Southeast Asian Studies page, including lots of links
.
Solarguard Homepage