Research & Article

Thai Literature as Reflected in Western Reports During the 17th to the 19th Centuries

By Klaus Wenk

Published on 12 May 2024

Language and Literature
Location of original sources

Journal of the Siam Society (JSS) Vol. 86 (1998)

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Thai Literature as Reflected in Western Reports During the 17th to the 19th Centuries


The paper explores the relative neglect of the many Thai literary forms by early visitors and scholars who were often perceptive recorders of many aspects of pre-modem culture. The relative brief stays in the kingdom by many of the visitors, lack of linguistic facility and sometimes the prejudiced nature of these travellers led them, for the most part to give a very superficial account of Thai literature.