The Last Siamese comprises twelve stories about prominent people of exceptional talent and vitality born between 1872 and 1930. In those years, foreigners knew the country as Siam, although the Siamese themselves called it muang Thai (or “The Land of the Free”) and referred to themselves as khon Thai (“Thai people”). In 1939, Field Marshal Pibulsonggram, who was also born “Siamese” and is a subject of this book, changed the country’s name from Siam to Thailand. This policy was the source of some contention until the matter was decisively concluded in 1949. From that point on the country has been known as Thailand.

1. History ? Biography