11 Best Novels Translated from Thailand to English: Still Worth to Read in 2024

Want to know the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English? Three of them are Sightseeing, Private Dancer and The Judgement.The 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English which will be discussed in this article were actually originally written in English. Why didn't they write them in Thai and then translate it into English?

Even though these 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English are actually purely in English, the authors are mostly Thais themselves, or Thais mixed with Westerners who have grown up and lived in Thailand for a long time.The Thai novels that will be discussed here are not novels that are mostly written by Western writers (who did not grow up and live long in Thailand) who choose the Thai background as the setting of their novels.

These 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English are clear and pure pieces of Thai literature that are interesting to read.

Apparently the writers of these novels are very fluent in English, so they prefer to write them in English rather than Thai itself.

So for those of you who like everything related to Thailand but have problems understanding Thai, you are advised to read these novels because they are written in English.So, what are the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English? And why should you read it? Here's the review.

1. Sightseeing

Sightseeing, as one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English, was written by Rattawut Lapcharoensap.Published in 2004, this author is known as a Thai-American writer who was 25 years old that year.Sightseeing is not actually a novel, but a book containing short stories set in modern-day Thailand.

However, the collection of short stories in this book is not just short stories, but you will find elements such as Thai culture, Thailand's true position in the world, and things like breaking the boundaries of Westernization.

Here you will learn a lot from different characters, such as lovers, friends, enemies, family, even a pig.

2. Bangkok Wakes to Rain

Another one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English is Bangkok Wake to Rain, written in English by Pitchaya Sudbanthad.When you read it, you will be taken to the past, future, and even the present of Bangkok.

You will be lulled by the words, a kind of love letter to the capital of Thailand. Since the story is so good, this novel was included in the list of best books by The Washington Post and The New York Times in 2019.This novel makes you remember that Bangkok is developing so fast. What will Bangkok actually look like in the future?

3. The Judgement

The Judgment is one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English which you must read.

Even though this novel written by Chart Korbjitti was published in 1982, this novel is still worth reading because it is really good.When you read this novel, at the beginning it feels a little disappointing because it seems like an ordinary drama novel. But who would have thought, the more you follow it, the more you realise that the story is getting more interesting.

Where you will find criticism of Thai society, it also upholds individual perceptions in Thai culture itself. Even here you will find discussions regarding the views of minor characters, and the mental health of the characters which is only getting worse.

This book, after you read it, is said to leave an impression on your heart and mind, making you continue to think about it. Curious to read it?The Judgement merupakan salah satu dari 11

4. The Bridge Over The River Kwai

The novel of The Bridge Over The River Kwai is one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English which you must read. The novel was written by Pierre Boulle in French and translated into English by Dan Fielding. This book was published in 1952.

You will read the true story of the construction of the Burma Railway during World War II at that time. Many prisoners of war and even members of the military died in terrible conditions. That's why the train is called the Death Train.The author even shared his own experiences during World War II and he was in Southeast Asia at that time.

Because this novel really inspired many people, a film adaptation of this novel was finally made with the title The Bridge on The River Kwai, where in 1957 this film won the title of Best Film at the Oscars. If you visit Thailand, please visit the museum and war cemetery there. You will see detailed construction of the Burma Railway and some of its original track.

5. Private Dancer

It could be said that Private Dancer is one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English which is anti-mainstream. Because this novel written by Stephen Leather dares to criticise corruptors in Thailand. He even dared to write explicit sexual activities in this novel. Obviously, reader discretion is expected.

You will read stories related to the relationship between customers and prostitutes, including relationships between Westerners and Thais, until moving on to another character whose relationship with his lover has been destroyed.

You will find many hidden motives from the characters being told, including misunderstandings and pros and cons. What's even more interesting is that you will be annoyed when you find out that the characters are actually ignoring the facts of what happened, and they are just watching.

6. The Happiness of Kati

The Happiness of Kati, as one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English, is a novel written by Ngarmpun Vejjajiva. Even though some Thai people think the word "Kati" sounds very strange, because it means "coconut milk", many people are still curious about this book.

Published in 2003, this novel tells the story of a 9 year old girl and her grandmother who feel sad when they find out that her mother is dying from Lou Gehrig's disease. This is what makes the mother want Kati, the girl, to get used to living with her grandmother, because the mother feels that her time to live will not be long.

Kati even had the opportunity to meet her father, whom she had never met or known. Apparently, this novel, with the original title The Pleasure of Coconut Milk, won the 2006 SEA Write Award in Thailand. This novel has even been adapted into a film released in 2009, which was translated from Thai into English by Prudence Borthwick.

7. Anna and The King of Siam

As one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English, Anna and The King of Siam was written by Margaret Landon. Published in 1944, this book is a semi-fiction style inspired by the real life of Anna Leonowens. Not just written, this novel comes from reports from people who knew Anna and also from journals written by Anna herself.

If you have watched the film The King and I, of course you are familiar with Anna Leonowens because this film was adapted from the novel Anna and The King of Siam. It is said that Anna, in 1860, visited Siam to teach the wife and children of King Mongkut (Rama IV). You will be interested in reading it because the author uses a first person point of view.

Here too, you will not only be absorbed by Anna's own story, but also what happened to Thailand in 1860. Of course, the author took many external sources in this matter related to Thailand. The reason is, as one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English, this novel also boldly criticises the monarchy system. As a result, the novel and film were banned from being released in Thailand.

Because anyone who criticised the monarchy system, at that time, even when the King was gone, would be given a prison sentence. You, in this novel, will clearly see Thailand in the past when its neighbouring countries were colonised by Europe.

8. The Beach

What other 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English do you have to read? Call it The Beach for instance.

The Beach is a novel by Alex Garland which is very good to read. The story begins with a traveller from England who arrived in Asia, and at that time he heard a lot about the paradise island in Thailand. Finally he decided to look for the beach, and he even spent time with a group of people who did not interact with the outside world.

The traveller enjoys every detail of his adventure until something terrible happens. Curious about the story? You can read it, and you will realise that this book has a great influence on Thai tourism.

9. The Sad Part Was

One of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English that you must read is The Sad Part Was written by Prabda Yoon. Actually, this book is not in the form of a novel, but rather a book containing 12 short stories. Of course, the entire story has been translated by Mui Pooksakul into English.

The author has a unique and humorous writing style, peppered with Thai metaphors and idioms. So the translation you read is a little difficult for some readers to understand. In this book, you will read stories related to Thailand which is described as a country full of contradictions, including things like local versus foreign, conservatism versus sexual exhibitionism, and deviant rules.

The author will explain how this all happened and the reasons behind it. So, don't be surprised if you are shocked when you read it.

10. The Ramakien

The Ramakien, one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English, is a collection of stories inspired by the real life of Rama Pandita, a character who lived in the 7th century BC. When you read The Ramakien, it will be easier for you to understand Thai culture, history and art.

You will be presented with writings from the Ayutthaya Kingdom, stories from the 18th and 13th centuries, as well as recordings or stories from the Sukhothai Kingdom which are performed in the form of Indonesian-style shadow puppet theatre.

Interested in learning about Thai culture and art? You can read the book which contains this collection of stories.

11. A Good True Thai

Finally, one of the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English is A Good True Thai written by Sunisa Manning. Published in September 2020, you as a reader will be taken into flashback to the 1970s, where there were a lot of political problems in Thailand at that time.

You will see many people protesting, where this problem was mostly covered up by the Thai government and media at that time. You will find 3 main characters in this novel, with different characteristics and backgrounds, where Chang is an ordinary commoner, Lek is a Chinese immigrant living in Thailand, and Det is a descendant of royalty.

Of course, this novel is inspired by real events that occurred in Thailand in the 1970s.

Conclusion

That's a review regarding 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English which is highly recommended to read, especially for those of you who like Thai literature. By reading the 11 best novels translated from Thailand to English above, you will learn a lot about Thai culture, art and history. Because these novels are rich in information that you need to know and these novels are not just teenage romance stories that are very monotonous to read.

Even if you have problems understanding Thai, you can still read all of these novels because some of them have been written in English and some have been translated into English. So for those of you who understand English more easily and are interested in everything Thai, you don't need to worry. Happy reading!***