The National library of Australia recently received the first four issues of ASTV ผู้จัดการสุดสัปดาห์ .  The one featured here is the second issue. The magazine has about 60 pages in colour. Published weekly, it is sold for 40 baht. ASTV ผู้จัดการสุดสัปดาห์ features editorial pieces that reflect the political position of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), it also has popular entertainment, celebrity gossip, and current affairs, as well as selected world and sports news.  Here is the Table of Contents for interested readers.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

The National Library of Australia has begun subscribing to Khwamsangop: Siang khong pongkan khwamsangop pasason, a Lao national newspaper, issued by the Ministry of National Security for the past 11 years. It reports on law enforcement agency investigations and prosecutions of crime and security matters. Stories cover provincial and district news, as well as VIP and foreign affairs related news. Some of the 20 pages are in colour. An interesting piece from the 13-17 April  2009 issue discusses vehicle accidents in Viengchan (image below). Figures for the first quarter of 2009 include 930 vehicles damaged (373 seriously damaged), 325 people injured, 63 seriously injured, and 60 fatalities. This is very informative about the real state of traffic safety in Viengchan.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

Lam tat (ลำตัด) is a Thai folk performance. It came to Siam from Malaysia during the reign of Rama V (1853 – 1910). Performances are sharp, witty, aggressive, and overtly sexual. Performers sing in turn, replying to each other in song, relying upon repertoire and improvisation. Booklets of lam tat lyrics were sold in markets.

Many performances were based on popular news items like murder, robbery, corruption among mandarins, capture of bandits etc. The covers were very eye-catching, using photos or drawings based on real events. The examples of booklet covers presented here were  published between 1924 and 1934.

The Son Killed his Father (1926)

She Killed Her Lover (1929)

Ee Nak Phra Khanong - popular ghost story (1920s)

The Brave Policeman (1928)

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

The National libray of Australia recently received the first issue of Voice of Taksin (เสียงทักษิณ ). The magazine has 70 pages with some colour  pictures. Published fortnightly, it is sold for 40 baht. Voice of Taksin features opinion pieces that reflect the political position of Thaksin’s followers.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

“Smoke this medicine to treat sinus, chronic cold/flu, reduce asthma etc.” From: นิตยสารไทยใหม่ 1937.

“Our brand of gasoline has more power than an elephant!” From: หนังสือสนองโอฐสภากาชาดสยาม 1930.

Nang Loeng Art Photo Studio “we use unique lighting to make your face beautiful!” From: หนังสือประชานุเคราะห์ 1935

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

Anake Nawigamune was born in Songkhla province South of Thailand in 1953. He is known as a collector of ephemera in Thailand, and founder of บ้านพิพิธภัณฑ์ or House of Museums. NLA’s collection includes over 100 books by Anake. His books are organised thematically and provide useful history, background and bibliography for ephemeral items. This type of publication makes a significant contribution to documenting society, and items we have on display give a unique view of Thai society in the decades leading up to the Second World War.

There are many images that we would like to share with New Mandala readers, so we will run a series of features over several weeks. Any comments on the content of the images (or the captions we have provided) will be most appreciated.

This is the first ad to appear in a Thai language newspaper, the Bangkok Recorder (1845). It announces the availability of Quinine being marketed by Rev. Dan Beach Bradley

You even can take Bengal Quince powered drink mix to the temple for the monks (1928)

Ya Sasithon Osot cures venereal diseases! (1924)

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

Imagined land?: the state and southern violence in Thailand (2009) Chaiwat Satha-Anand (editor) (ISBN: 9874863370210).

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that we have recently acquired an English translation of this significant volume (original title: แผ่นดินจินตนาการ?: รัฐและการแก้ไขปัญหาความรุนแรงในภาคใต้ ) previously featured here.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

ชุมชนจินตกรรม : บทสะท้อนว่าด้วยกำเนิดและการแพร่ขยายของชาตินิยม by Benedict Anderson (2009) (Translation of  Imagined Communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism) (ISBN: 9789744993793). Readers will be interested to note that this volume is the first Thai translation version of the celebrated book by Benedict Anderson. It is published by the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Science and Humanities Textbooks Project.  Charnvit Kasetsiri is the translation’s main editor. The print run of 2000 copies is published and distributed by บริษัท เคล็ดไทย. Here is the table of contents.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

Beginning in March 2009, the National Library of Australia is now collecting Myanmar crime magazines. Pyit-hmu (Crime Magazine) and Shu-htaunt Hmu-hkin (Crime and News Journal) are two new Burmese-language subscriptions. Shu-htaunt Hmu-hkin is a weekly journal that consists of news on recent criminal cases in Myanmar, including murder, rape, assault, robbery, theft, forgery, fraud and drug trafficking. Pyit-hmu is a monthly magazine that features a variety of crime-related articles from home and abroad, as well as legal issues, news, stories, poems and cartoons.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]

Phom mai dai khai chat (I did not sell my country) (2008) by Nophadon Pathama (ISBN: 9789743681141 ). Nophadon, former foreign minister in Samak’s government was hounded out of office for his role in Preah Vihear temple dispute. This book is his story and his account of Preah Vihear. Part one is autobiographical and part two provides detailed documentation of the Preah Vihear issue. Here is the table of contents for interested readers.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]