The list below is of books that I have found invaluable in learning about Luang Prabang's history and culture.
Luang Prabang. La Cité Du Bouddha D'or Et Du Flamboyant
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Capelle, François. 2006
Thalia Edition An excellent introduction to Luang Prabang covering its history, art and culture. Includes detailed descriptions with beautiful photographs of all the main temples.
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Sacred Caves of Tam Ting (Pak Ou),
Luang Prabang, Laos: Mystery, Splendor, and Desecration
Luang Prabang, Laos: Mystery, Splendor, and Desecration
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Egloff, Brian,and Kelly, Kristin. 2015
White Lotus Press, Bangkok A detailed description the history and archaeology of Pak Ou caves based on research that was initially conducted in the 1990's and a return visit in 2011. Sadly it also documents the considerable loss of irreplaceable Buddha statues from the caves during this period.
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A Walk Through the Heritage of Luang Prabang
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Engelmann, Francis ,and Menoni, Alain. 2015
Anantha Publishing, New York Luang Prabang This walking tour around the peninsular of Luang Prabang is a great way to first explore some of the architectural treasures of the town. Written by Francis Engelmann, former advisor to UNESCO Heritage House and probably the foremost authority on Luang Prabang's architecture. Photography is by Alain Menoni who runs the beautiful Asiama Gallery near Vat Nong.
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A Short History of Laos
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Evans, Grant. 2002
Allen & Unwin, Sydney Grant Evans was one of the world's leading scholars on Lao history and this very readable history book is an essential start for those wanting to understand the history of this small nation.
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The Last Century of Lao Royalty.
A Documentary History.
A Documentary History.
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Evans, Grant. 2009
Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai A fascinating book in which Grant Evans pulls together contemporary writings, archival photographs as well as personal interviews to document the main characters of the various Lao royal families and show the deep connections that existed between the royal families and Lao culture before 1975.
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The Lao Sangha and Modernity
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Grabowski, Volker and Berger, Hans Georg. 2015
Anantha Publishing, Luang Prabang. Volker Grabowsky is one of the foremost scholars of Thai / Lao history and culture whilst Hans Georg Berger is a photographer who has spent two decades working with the monasteries of Luang Prabang, both documenting Buddhist religious life and also bringing to world attention an enormous archive of indigenous Lao Buddhist photography. In collaboration with Luang Prabang monasteries this book documents some of the key figures of Luang Prabang's religious institutions in the twentieth century and how they have negotiated the huge changes in Lao society during this period. An appendix also provides a comprehensive list and map of monasteries in Luang Prabang (Both extant and destroyed) together.
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Ancient Luang Prabang & Laos
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Heywood, Denise. 2014
River Books, Bangkok. A beautifully produced book documenting through words and photographs all the major temples of Luang Prabang as well as some of the key civilian buildings. Some short chapters also on arts and temples of other towns in Laos.
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Political Struggles in Laos (1930 - 1954)
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Gunn, Geoffrey C. 2005
White Lotus, Bangkok A detailed history of the origins of the communist movement in French colonial Laos. Traces the origins of this Marxist movement in a largely peasant agricultural society up to the point at the 1954 Geneva Conference where it was able to gain international recognition which subsequently lead to its complete victory in 1975.
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Rebellion in Laos - Peasant and Politics in a Colonial Backwater
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Gunn, Geoffrey C. 2003
White Lotus, Bangkok A study on events and drivers of peasant revolts during the French colonial era in Laos. Provides interesting details on the impact of the French colonial rule on the lives of the Lao peasantry.
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Theravadins, Colonialists and Commissars in Laos
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Gunn, Geoffrey C. 1998
White Lotus, Bangkok A collection of writings by Gunn discussing the makings of the Lao communist movement, its development and the challenges facing the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
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Spirits of the Place. Buddhism and Lao Religious Culture
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Holt, John Clifford. 2011.
University of Hawaii Press. All visitors to Laos will learn that Theravada Buddhism is the main religion of the country and the Buddhist temples and their monks are a major tourist drawcard, especially in Luang Prabang. But the observant traveller will notice that many small daily rituals of the Lao involve making offerings to unseen spirits. John Clifford Holt is an authority on Theravada Buddhism and in this book he explores the key role that animism and ancestor worship play in the Lao psyche and how this suffuses the practice of Theravada Buddhism in Luang Prabang.
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Creating Laos. The Making of a Lao Space between Indochina and Siam, 1860 - 1945
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Invarsson, Soren. 2008.
Nordic Institution of Asian Studies Press. An interesting book detailing with aspects of the French colonial period of Laos and grappling with issues explaining the formation of a modern nation out of traditional indigenous polities and the French colonial territory of Indochina.
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Monarchy, Revolution and Refugees
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Irvine, Walter. 2023
River Books. A fascinating account of life and culture in Luang Prabang in 1975, just before the abolition of the monarchy, by Walter Irvine who travelled there initially as a VSO teacher (The house he rented still stands, UNESCO Heritage #286). Later as an UNHCR employee Irvine sees the many challenges of Lao refugees in the aftermath of the war, both in transit camps and later in Argentina.
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A Luang Prabang Love Story
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Koumphon, Manisamouth Ratana. 2020.
River Books. Bangkok. This short book is a personal family story by Manisamouth Ratana Koumphon of how her grandmother found, lost and re-found love with Luang Prabang's Prince Souvanna Phouma. Within the story a wealth of footnotes, explanations and photographs bring to life the cultural traditions that were still practiced in early to mid-twentieth century Luang Prabang.
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The Bamboo Palace : Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos
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Kremmer, Christopher. 2003.
Silkworm Press, Thailand. In the 1990's the Australian journalist and author Christopher Kremmer travelled to Laos to trace the last days of King Sisavang Vatthana and his family after their arrest in 1977, a journey that took him from Luang Prabang to Prison Camp Number One in Sam Neua.
The book was first published as Stalking the Elephant Kings: In Search of Laos, in 1997, being later updated and released as The Bamboo Palace. |
A New and Interesting Description of the Lao Kingdom
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de Marini, G.F.,
Translation by Tips, Walter E.J. & Bertuccio, Claudio. 1998. White Lotus Press. Bangkok. An interesting description of the Kingdom of Laos and its people based on Jesuit travels there in the 1640's. Much of the description tells as much about the prejudices of seventeenth century Europeans as it does about the Lao people of the time
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The Quiet in the Land
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Morin, France. 2010
The Quiet in the Land, Inc. A collaborative arts project between international and local artists initiated by France Morin exploring how local communities adapt to modern globalization to preserve local culture. The project ran in Luang Prabang between 2004 and 2006 resulting in this fascinating volume covering many varied topics of local arts and culture.
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The Enduring Sacred Landscape of the Naga
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Ngaosrivathana, Mayoury & Pheuiphanh. 2009
Mekong Press. Chiang Mai. An excellent little book describing in detail the different naga traditions in northern, central and southern Laos.
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Ancient Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Mon Realm and The Angkor imperial Road
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Ngaosrivathana, Mayoury & Pheuiphanh. 2009 (Copy with typed and handwritten "Final Updates" dated 2016)
Mekong Press. Chiang Mai. The subtitle describes this as "Penultimate thoughts and addendum to The Enduring Sacred Places of the Naga" (See above). This small booklet provides fascinating details of history and supporting archaeology of Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
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Travel Reports of the Pavie Mission
The Pavie Mission Indochina Papers Vol 3
The Pavie Mission Indochina Papers Vol 3
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Pavie, Auguste, translation by Tips, Walter E.J. 1999
White Lotus Press. Bangkok. Auguste Pavie is one of the most influential characters in the history of Laos. He spent over two decades working and exploring in Siam, Laos and Cambodia forming a deep attachment to the people there whilst also firmly believing in the benefits that France as a colonial power could bring to these countries.
Between 1879 and 1895 the French government funded his exploration of the region, at the end of which his seven volume report was published. In this Volume 3 Pavie gives a fascinating first-hand account of the sacking of Luang Prabang by Haw rebels in 1887 and the ensuing chaos and destruction. He goes on to negotiate with those same rebels in Mueang Lai. Throughout his writings one can see the intense competition at this critical time between France and Siam for control of Luang Prabang and its territories. The complete set of the Mission Pavie papers is available as pdf here (in French).
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The Kingdom of Laos. Six Hundred Years of History
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Simms, Peter* and Simms, Sanda. 2001.
Curzon Press. Kingston. A very readable account of the history of the Lao kingdoms up to the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the French colonial period.
[*No relation to this website's author] |
A History of Laos
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Stuart-Fox, Martin. 1997.
Cambridge University Press. An authoritative history of Laos written by one of the foremost scholars of Lao history.
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The Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang: Rise and Decline
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Stuart-Fox, Martin. 1999.
White Lotus Press. Bangkok. An authoritative history of Lan Xang by one of the leading scholars of Lao history.
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