Of Dried Tears and Fallen Blood: World Literature as an Allegory for Thai Politics - Chaiyan Rajchagool

Of Dried Tears and Fallen Blood:
World Literature as an Allegory for Thai Politics

By Chaiyan Rajchagool

A searing, sophisticated, and uncompromising critique of power. Chaiyan Rajchagool weaponizes world literature to dissect the soul of the Thai nation.

Of Dried Tears and Fallen Blood is a collection of essays that are as intellectually rigorous as they are provocatively sharp. Rajchagool navigates the masterpieces of global literature to find mirrors for the Thai socio-political landscape. From the imperial halls of Tsarist Russia and the palace intrigues of England and France to the blood-stained struggles for democracy in South Korea and the dehumanizing caste hierarchies of India, no regime is left unexamined.

The journey traverses the Roman Republic during the assassination of Julius Caesar and concludes with a profound analysis of the Kafkaesque—featuring a deep dive into the immortal works of Franz Kafka. Through these stories, Rajchagool illuminates the core pillars of Thai political dysfunction: The Subjugated, the Nation, the Sovereign Power, and the Elite.

"The law may dictate punishment, but it cannot mandate unconditional love. That lies beyond its jurisdiction. Thus, when the courts cannot convict those who fail to 'love' the Sovereign, 'auxiliaries' must step in—ranging from those who use saliva as ink and those in uniform who preach for a living, to the frenzied mobs and the howling sycophants."

— From Chapter 7: Why Demand Love with Such Brutality?

Key features of this collection:

A Masterclass in Satire: Incisive, layered, and utterly fearless in its critique of the "powers that be."

The Allegorical Method: Using literary criticism as a gateway to discuss the "unspeakable" realities of Thai politics.

A Battle of Narratives: Written during a decade of intense political upheaval, the book captures the clash between the "Sentimentalists" (those weeping with devotion) and those whose tears have dried, leaving only the flow of blood.

"The study of literature allows us to escape the cages of certainty—the mental prisons that prevent us from questioning the world, politics, and our fellow humans. It is an escape from the stale meanings and repetitive answers that have become the stagnant habits of our hearts and minds."

— From the Author’s Preface

Details
▪️Format : Paperback
▪️Ida Aroonwong : Editor
▪️Designed by ● SM STUDIO | Chirawat Rotaim ●
▪️Published : July 2021
▪️Length : 400 pages
▪️ISBN : 978-616-562-022-2
▪️Dimensions (in) : 5.25 x 8.25
▪️Price : 450 THB