000			01682nam a22001697a 4500
005			20240305123350.0
020			_a9780006552109
040			_cGESM
100	1		_aRyman, Geoff
240	0	0	_aThe king's last song or Kraing meas
245	0	0	_aThe king's last song or Kraing meas _cGeoff Ryman
260			_aLondon _bHarperCollins _c2007
300			_a488 p.
520			_aA great king brings peace to a warring nation. Centuries later his writings will bring hope to those facing the tragic legacy of modern Cambodia's bloody history. When archaeologists discover a book written on gold leaves at Angkor Wat, everyone wants a piece of the action. But the King, the Army and the UN are all outflanked when the precious artefact is kidnapped, along with Professor Luc Andrade, who was accompanying it to the capital for restoration. Luckily for Luc, his love and respect for Cambodia have won him many friends, including ex-Khmer Rouge cadre Map and the young moto-boy William. Both equally determined to rescue the man they consider their mentor and recover the golden book, they form an unlikely bond. But William is unaware of just how closely Map's bloody past affects him. The book contains the words and wisdom of King Jayavarman VII, the Buddhist ruler who united a war-torn Cambodia in the twelfth century and together with his enlightened wife created a kingdom that was a haven of peace and learning. His extraordinary story is skilfully interwoven with the tales of Luc, Map and William to create an unforgettable and dazzling evocation of the spirit of Cambodia and her peoples in all their beauty and tragedy.
653			_aCambodia _aKings and rulers _aFiction
942			_cBK
999			_c4499 _d4499