The Informal Imperialist
Dr. Clement Williams at the Court of King Mindon, Mandalay, 1861-1879
Published on 22. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
252 pages
978-616-451-095-1 (ISBN)
Description
Dr. Clement Williams was a British army surgeon, political agent, and businessman who gained unparalleled access to the court of King Mindon, the great ruler of Mandalay, between 1861 and his premature death in 1873.
William's official diaries, his legal disputes, his commercial contracts, his travel book, and (most of all) his extraordinarily rare photographs offer a unique portrait of an ancient civilisation on the cusp of industrial, technological, and political change. Drawing on primary sources and academic works, The Informal Imperialist has already been recognised as a significant contribution to Burmese studies within and beyond Myanmar. And, by weaving Williams's story into a clear and compelling narrative, it reveals a vanished world to both scholars and general readers alike.
William's official diaries, his legal disputes, his commercial contracts, his travel book, and (most of all) his extraordinarily rare photographs offer a unique portrait of an ancient civilisation on the cusp of industrial, technological, and political change. Drawing on primary sources and academic works, The Informal Imperialist has already been recognised as a significant contribution to Burmese studies within and beyond Myanmar. And, by weaving Williams's story into a clear and compelling narrative, it reveals a vanished world to both scholars and general readers alike.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thailand
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 143 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
440 gr
ISBN-13
978-616-451-095-1 (9786164510951)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ron Graham is an award-winning author and journalist based in Toronto, Canada. He has written extensively about politics, history, religion, business, and the arts. Graham has served as a trustee of the Royal Ontario Museum, curated an exhibition of Japanese ceramics, and been a student of Burmese Vipassana meditation since 1973.
Content
Author's note 6
Introduction 8
Prologue 16
Chapter 1 28
Chapter 2 38
Chapter 3 48
Chapter 4 66
Chapter 5 80
Chapter 6 88
Chapter 7 100
Chapter 8 106
Chapter 9 114
Chapter 10 118
Chapter 11 122
Chapter 12 126
Chapter 13 132
Chapter 14 138
Chapter 15 146
Chapter 16 154
Chapter 17 166
Chapter 18 176
Chapter 19 182
Epilogue 194
Coda 208
Source notes 210
References 240
Acknowledgements 248
Introduction 8
Prologue 16
Chapter 1 28
Chapter 2 38
Chapter 3 48
Chapter 4 66
Chapter 5 80
Chapter 6 88
Chapter 7 100
Chapter 8 106
Chapter 9 114
Chapter 10 118
Chapter 11 122
Chapter 12 126
Chapter 13 132
Chapter 14 138
Chapter 15 146
Chapter 16 154
Chapter 17 166
Chapter 18 176
Chapter 19 182
Epilogue 194
Coda 208
Source notes 210
References 240
Acknowledgements 248