Description:
Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 1999. Trade Paperback. First Edition. Fine. Interior pristine. Spine straight, tight and uncreased. Covers clean and bright. Very slight corner wear. Not from a library. No remainder mark. xi + 313 pages. lg 8vo. ill., maps.The first comprehensive social and cultural study of Laos in forty years. Laos stands at the center of mainland Southeast Asia. It shares borders with all the main states in the region including China, so that when one touches on Laos, one touches the heart of the region. Any study of culture and society in Laos inevitably leads into broader issues associated with all the surrounding societies and cultures concerning their origins and contemporary developments. While all the essays in this volume take Laos as their focal point they raise issues which overflow the boundaries of the Lao state. They focus on the creation of the idea of Laos and its culture, whether it be through literature, tourism, or the activities of nationalists, thereby contributing… Read More