A monument to His Majesty

Thais and foreigners eager to know more about the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, can now get the big picture thanks to the third edition of "The King of Thailand in World Focus", which goes on sale this weekend. The revised book contains the full transcript of a

 1979 interview HM the King gave to the BBC. The rest of its 280 pages are stuffed with articles covering events up until January of this year.

Articles from around the world

With the second edition selling out soon after hitting the bookstands last August, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand decided to go for a third printing. "It is a historic document, a compilation of articles from around the world to show people what has been written about the King," explained Dominic Faulder who edited the book. "This latest edition is an improvement - a better and more fascinating picture," he added.

Twenty pages with nine new articles and rare photographs have been added to the original 176 pieces. A total of 158 journalists and photographers from around the world, including 22 Thais, contributed to this monument to a monarch.

A monarch speaks

The transcripts of His Majesty's interview with BBC journalist David Lomax for the "Soul of the Nation" documentary have been expanded and the questions restored in full. The interview contains 29 questions relating to all aspects of his Kingship and works.

Triumph over controversy

Other articles touch on the Crown Property Bureau, His Majesty's concept of the sufficiency economy and reviews of the banned book "The King Never Smiles". The five-month ban on YouTube, the video-sharing website, is discussed, as well as the case of the Swiss expat who was given a royal pardon after he spray-painted portraits of the monarch.

Towards the end of "The King of Thailand in World Focus" comes Anand Panyarachun's sparkling keynote address for the launch of the second edition. It is vintage Anand: witty, insightful and ready to roast the foreign journalists he engages in a question & answer session. Twice appointed prime minister, in 1991 and 1992, Anand probably has a deeper understanding of the Thai monarchy than just about anyone.

In exchange for Bt1,450, readers also get a short history of the Chakri Dynasty, a genealogy chart of the House of Chakri and a chronology of the life and times of His Majesty.