Welcome to Asia Bookroom

Asia Bookroom is a leading Asian bookselling specialist. We have a large stock of books old and new on China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Laos, Sri Lanka/Ceylon, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Himalayan region including Tibet and Central Asia. We stock books old and new on all of these areas - and many Asian themes and topics - for example cookery and food, religion and philosophy, Asian art and many more. Browse our site and subscribe to our mailing list for updates of new books as they arrive.

New books are always arriving at Asia Bookroom - below is a very small sample! Subscribe to our e-lists to hear of all new books as they arrive.

The Devil's Discus.
KRUGER, RAYNE.
AU$59.95
Black and white illustrations, 260pp, paperback. A fascinating investigation into the dramatic demise of Ananda, the European born and educated heir to the Siamese crown. Ananda returned to Thailand in 1945, at the conclusion of WWII, at the tender age of 20, to assume his royal role, yet only six months later was discovered dead in the palace of a gunshot wound. Following a painfully extended investigation and trial, three palace aides were convicted and executed for regicide, and one of Thailand's brightest and most promising politicians, implicated in the 'crime' was driven into exile. Author Kruger, who had unprecedented access to members of the inner circle of the Thai royal family (although these contacts had to remain unidentified), drew the conclusion that Ananda's death was most probably an 'accidental suicide'. Thus it appears that the sad, most likely accidental, death of the young king was exploited for the purposes of a political vendetta, and that three innocent victims were executed to maintain the façade. Kruger?s book was incendiary to the Thai establishment and was quickly banned in the country, where it remains banned to the present day. The inexplicable rarity of the original edition also implies a concerted effort, by parties unknown, to corner and destroy as many printed copies as possible. A fascinating read, of particular relevance today as Thai royalist forces continue their struggle to dominate the direction of the country by whatever means possible. Kruger's book was incendiary to the Thai establishment and was quickly banned in the country. The inexplicable rarity of the original edition implies a concerted effort, by parties unknown, to corner and destroy as many printed copies as possible. A fascinating read, of particular relevance today as royalist forces continue their struggle to dominate the direction of the country by whatever means possible. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 24945) ... more
Stock ID: 24945

Nineteenth century American Medical Missionaries in Jaffna, Ceylon.
ARUMUGAM, THIRU.
AU$49.00
Black and white photographic illustrations xi + 260 pages, index, bibliography, appendices, hardback. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, a movement began in America which had the objective of evangelizing the non-Christian world. This led to the formation in 1810 of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The first mission was sent out to India in 1812 and the second mission was sent to Jaffna, Ceylon in 1816. Apart from the usual missionary activities, medical missionaries were also sent out. The medical missionary who made an outstanding contribution in Jaffna was Dr Samuel Fisk Green. He opened a small hospital and started in Jaffna the first western medical school in Ceylon, where ultimately 113 medical practitioners were trained. When he found that his trainees were going away to other parts of the country and joining government and mercantile service, he decided to switch the medium of instruction to Tamil. To teach in Tamil, he studied Tamil, coined Tamil medical terms because none existed and translated eight major medical textbooks of the day into Tamil, a total of over 4500 pages. His work was not given the recognition it deserved in his lifetime and it is hoped that this book will help to redress the balance. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131420) ... more
Stock ID: 131420

Was Mao Really a Monster?
CHUN, LIN AND GREGOR BENTON, EDS.
AU$65.00
199 pages, notes, paperback. "Mao: The Unknown Story" by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday was published in 2005 to a great fanfare. The book portrays Mao as a monster - equal to or worse than Hitler and Stalin - and a fool who won power by native cunning and ruled by terror. It received a rapturous welcome from reviewers in the popular press and rocketed to the top of the worldwide bestseller list. Few works on China by writers in the West have achieved its impact. Reviews by serious China scholars, however, tended to take a different view. Most were sharply critical, questioning its authority and the authors' methods , arguing that Chang and Halliday's book is not a work of balanced scholarship, as it purports to be, but a highly selective and even polemical study that sets out to demonise Mao. This book brings together sixteen reviews of "Mao: The Unknown Story" - all by internationally well-regarded specialists in modern Chinese history, and published in relatively specialised scholarly journals. Taken together they demonstrate that Chang and Halliday's portrayal of Mao is in many places woefully inaccurate. While agreeing that Mao had many faults and was responsible for some disastrous policies, they conclude that a more balanced picture is needed. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131301) ... more
Stock ID: 131301

Southeast Asia An Introductory History
OSBORNE, MILTON
AU$29.99
Maps, black and white photographic illustrations, xiv + 351 pages, timeline, suggested reading, appendix, paperback. The first edition of Southeast Asia: An introductory history was published in 1979 and immediately filled a need for travellers and students interested in a tantalisingly different part of the world. Subsequent editions have continued to document with great perception the enormous changes and dramatic growth experienced in the region. Dr Milton Osborne has been a resident, student and fascinated observer of Southeast Asia for over 40 years. This familiarity has resulted in a highly readable and lively chronicle. While giving due regard to the early history of the region, Osborne concentrates on the changes that have taken place since the eighteenth century: the impact of colonial rule, economic transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries, the emergence and triumph of the independence movements, the impact of social change and the pivotal roles played by religion, ethnic minorities and immigrant groups. He also provides an introduction to the art of the region and a comprehensive guide to literature about Southeast Asia. Clearly written and extensively illustrated this tenth edition of Southeast Asia: An introductory history remains a classic in the field. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131276) ... more
Stock ID: 131276

Nothing to Envy Love, Life and Death in North Korea
DEMICK, BARBARA
AU$35.00
Map, black and white photographic illustrations, xii + 314 pages, notes, paperback. What if everything around you was black and white except for the red letters on propaganda signs? Where spies like Orwell's Thought Police studied your facial expressions during political rallies to make sure you were sincere in your expressions and your thoughts? If you couldn't turn the dials of your radio away from the government station? In fact, there is such a place: North Korea, the only country not connected to the Internet by choice. Ruled over by a dictator, visible only in carefully controlled images, it's a mysterious, even sinister country. But it's also a place where 22 million people live, work, and dream of a different life. Journalist Barbara Demick spent a decade covering North Korea's strange politics and regulations. Then one day she met a young woman defector, Mi-ran, who told her about growing up there; about the cinema she used to go to when the country still had electricity, and about the teenage romance which blossomed there. Through Mi-ran's story Demick glimpsed another, more human side of North Korea. In Nothing to Envy, Demick re-traces the life of Mi-ran and of five other North Koreans, taking us into the heart of an elusive society. We see her subjects fall in love, nurture ambitions, and struggle with survival and betrayal. Their stories form a haunting portrait of a bizarre society and the cost it exacts on its citizens. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131452) ... more
Stock ID: 131452

Cambodge. Carte Administrative et Routiere.
[MAP OF CAMBODIA].
AU$150.00
French map of Cambodia's administrative areas and roads, showing boundaries, transportation, waterways, and airports. Colour, scale: 1:500,000, map on two sheets; full size: 133 x 105.5 cm. Fold lines, wrinkling to edges, few small areas of loss to outer edge and top right corner, not affecting text, few small areas of soiling, closed tear in one fold line, still a striking map. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131426) ... more
Stock ID: 131426

Chinese Calendar Poster (yuefenpai) advertising cigarettes.
[CHINESE POSTER].
AU$210.00
Full colour poster featuring a young Chinese beauty reclining in the grass, a four character phrase describing the image can be found just below. Underneath this image is a Western 12 month calendar (Julian) from 1931 or the 20th year of the Republic, and four images of cigarette's sold by the company. These images are surrounded by a decorative border with gold highlights. Image measures approximately 107 x 38cm. Oxidised metal bands lower and upper edges, creased with two particularly firm creases towards the center of the poster, few closed tears at top and bottom of the poster are repaired on the reverse with sello tape and paper, edges trifle chipped with few small closed tears, minor pinhead size holes top and bottom of poster, very occasional brown spotting, very minor wear and minimal loss to image of lady. Still a most attractive piece. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 59780) ... more
Stock ID: 59780

Ways of Confucianism. Investigations in Chinese Philosophy.
NIVISON, DAVID.
AU$45.00
xiv + 339pp, index, bibliography, notes, very good in paperback. Confucianism is one of the most influential philosophical traditions in the world, with profound and challenging insights on human nature, virtue, ethical cultivation, and the foundations of morality and civilization. In this collection of essays, most never before published, Nivison presents nuanced and subtle interpretations of key thinkers from over two thousand years in the Confucian movement. From Publisher's description. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 128637) ... more
Stock ID: 128637

Vientiane Ouest. Carte Routiere de l'Indochine Feuille No. 5.
[MAP - LAOS - WEST VIENTIANE].
AU$145.00
Part of a series of French road maps of Indochina. Road map of West Vientiane, also showing railways/tramways, rice fields, marshes, airfields, canals, and populated areas, as well as topographical features. Colour map, 64cm x 76 cm, scale: 1:400,000. Fold lines, with little wrinkling and creasing to edges, otherwise in good condition. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 131428) ... more
Stock ID: 131428

Tour of Shanghai's Historical Architecture.
SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION.
AU$40.00
Maps, many colour photographic illustrations, 87pp, quarto, blue wrappers little marked in places, some extremities wear, a good copy overall. In English, Chinese and Japanese. Divided into six sections: Ancient Constructions, Buildings on the Bund, Former Residences of Prominent Figures, Religious Constructions, Resident Constructions and Public Constructions. Similar to an album in that each photograph is accompanied by the address for and information about each building. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 128668) ... more
Stock ID: 128668

Bulletin de la Societe de Geographie. Tonkin Expedition and le Fleuve Rouge.
DU CAILLAUD, F. ROMANET.
AU$110.00
Fevrier issue: Folding colour map of Tong-king with an inset of 'Delta du tong-king', 98 - 192pp. Avril issue: Two folding black and white folding maps one entitled 'Le Fleuve Rouge de Yuen kiang a Ha noi', 289 - 384pp, both issues are in very good condition in their original wrappers, signature upper corner of upper wrapper, wrappers little chipped at edges, lower wrapper Avril issue torn with a little loss along fore edges but generally very good. These two issues between them contain the complete text of F. Romanet du Caillard's article 'Notice sur le Tong-King' on the Tonkin expedition. The issue for April 1880 also includes an article by Dutreuil de Rhins 'Notes du geographie historique sur le Fleuve Rouge' which is particularly interesting given that the following year the French and Chinese were at war over the control of this river. French text. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 129898) ... more
Stock ID: 129898