The Cambodian Royal Chronicle: A History at a Glance

Author and reporter Chanda Chhay is an American of Cambodian descent who spent the first twenty-five years of his life in Cambodia, and lived through "one of the most horrific social upheavals that has ever happened to humankind." The experience has left an indelible mark on Mr. Chhay's memory--and was the great impetus to write The Cambodian Royal Chronicle. This invaluable work covers three main topics: the history of the Cambodian monarchs; an analytic essay on the Cambodian people, society, culture and civilization; and a fascinating report by a Chinese envoy on the customs of the people of Cambodia at the turn of the 13th century. As a Cambodian who had lived through the destruction of Cambodian society under the Khmer Rouge rule in the late 1970s, Mr. Chhay draws from his vast knowledge of his people's colorful, violent, and culturally rich history to present a substantiative book for students of Cambodian history, as well as for the educated reader.