Van Vliet's Siam Author:Christopher John Baker, Dhiravat Na Pombejra, Alfons Van Der Kraan, David K. Wyatt, Jeremias Van Vliet The most detailed, fascinating, and lively account of old Siam was written by the Dutch merchant Jeremias Van Vliet between 1636 and 1640. This volume includes all four of his writings in English translation: the earliest surviving chronicle of Siam's history; a wide-ranging description of the kingdom's geography, economy, society, politics, and... more » religion; a blow-by-blow account of a bloody power struggle over the crown; and, the Dutchman's diary during a crisis - the Picnic Incident - published here for the first time. The editors add new details on Van Vliet's life, the Dutch community, the city of Ayutthaya, and the court of King Prasat Thong, which set this ordinary merchant's extraordinary literary work into its context of time and place. Chris Baker is co-author of "Thailand: Economy and Politics and A History of Thailand". Dhiravat na Pombejra teaches history at Chulalongkorn University. Alfons van der Kraan teaches in the School of Economics, University of New England, Australia. David K. Wyatt is John Stambaugh Professor Emeritus of History at Cornell University.« less