This book offers an engaging journey through Thai history-from the kings of Siam and the Vietnam War to the invention of Pad Thai and the modern tourist invasion. Thailand's dramatic history includes its emergence as a prosperous Buddhist state, its transformation from a kingdom to a constitutional monarchy and its rise to prominence in Southeast Asian affairs. A Brief History of Thailand recounts many fascinating episodes, including: The true story of the British governess hired to teach the children of King Mongkut, fictionalized and turned into a hit Broadway musical and Hollywood film, The King and I, The Japanese invasion of Thailand and construction of the "Bridge on the River Kwai" made famous by the novel and Oscar-winning film, The development of Thailand as an international playground during the Vietnam War when the American military used it as a rowdy destination for servicemen on R & R furloughs, The 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, who was born in the U.S., educated in Switzerland, loved to play the saxophone and was idolized by his people With this book, historian Richard A. Ruth has skillfully crafted an accessible history that explains how Thailand became the only country in Southeast Asia to resist European domination, how Thai Buddhism has wrought profound political and social changes, how Thai cuisine has conquered the world-and more recently, how the consequences of globalization and military rule continue to reshape Thai society. Book jacket.