Ayutthaya: Venice of the East

For over four hundred years between 1350 and 1767 Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, renowned throughout the world for its wealth and beautiful temples. During this period it became one of the most important trading cities in the region and a magnet for travellers, missionaries and adventurers. Crucial to its success was its location on the Chao Phraya river, which since time immemorial has irrigated the fertile Thai heartland, and been a vital strategic and communications link, as important to the Thais as the Nile is to the Egyptians. In Ayutthaya – Venice of the East, Derick Garnier traces the interlinked histories of Ayutthaya and the Chao Phraya with a text which is scholarly and entertaining. In over 15 years of research, Derick Garnier has became an expert in this field and has amassed a wealth of fascinating material and anecdotes. Read more