Blood, Dreams and Gold: The Changing Face of Burma (by Richard Cockett)
Cockett’s enlightening history, from the colonial era on, explains how Burma descended into decades of civil war and authoritarian government. Taking advantage of the opening up of the country since 2011, Cockett has interviewed hundreds of former political prisoners, guerrilla fighters, ministers, monks, and others to give a vivid account of life under one of the most brutal regimes in the world. In many cases, this is the first time that they have been able to tell their stories to the outside world. Cockett also explains why the regime has started to reform, and why these reforms will not go as far as many people had hoped.
The River of Lost Footsteps (by Thant Myint U)
Written by the grandson of U Thant, a Burmese diplomat and the third Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, this 400-page book provides an interesting and factual account of the country’s origins, all the way up to present day.
Burma’s Spring (by Rosalind Russell)
The first-hand account of a journalist whom came looking for work in Myanmar, just before Cyclone Nargis devastated the country back in 2008. In her memoir, Russell has written authoritatively of the changes that swept through Burma, yet she has done so by focusing on the stories of a series of individuals and looking at how their lives were affected by events.
From the Land of Green Ghosts (by Pascal Khoo Thwe)
The book tells the extraordinary story of Pascal Khoo Thwe, a Burmese author from the minority Padaung people. This autobiographical tale details Khoo Twe’s life from his childhood in a remote tribal village in southern Shan State, his escape as a forest guerrilla-fighter to Thailand and the improbable journey from his strife-torn homeland to the University of Cambridge. This deeply moving, well written piece is “more than a record of an astonishing life, [it is] a work of art.”
Twilight over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess (by Inge Eberhard)
While at school in Colorado in the early ’50s, the Austrian-born author met and married fellow student Sao Kya Seng. Because he wanted a wife who would marry him “for the right reasons”, Sao chose not to tell Inge he was Prince of Hsipaw, one of 34 independent Shan states in northeastern Burma. For eight years the couple presided over the modernisation of their small state, sadly unaware of the weak political leadership plaguing Burma since the 1947 assassination of General Aung San. After General Ne Win staged the infamous military coup in 1962, life quickly changed. Throughout the novel, Inge retells the couple’s story from the fairytale start to the tragic end. Not the most uplifting read, but an important part of the country’s turbulent history nonetheless.
The Burman: His Life and Notions (by James George Scott)
Written by the Scottish journalist and British Colonial administrator James George Scott, the book was initially published under the pseudonym Shway Yoe; the author’s language proficiency and his exquisite style stunned both the public and the critics, as it was deemed impossible for a Burmese person to write so well in English. Even though ‘the Burman’ was written over a hundred years ago it is still referred to as one of the most comprehensive introductions to Myanmar culture; it provides with a tremendously detailed description of nearly every aspect of Burmese society and its customs.
The Trouser People (by Andrew Marshall)
Part travelogue, part history, part reportage, The Trouser People recounts the story of George Scott, the eccentric British explorer, photographer, adventurer, and later Colonial Administrator of Burma, who introduced the Empire’s best game (soccer!) to Burmese natives and to the forbidden Wa state of headhunters, who were similarly enthusiastic about it.
The Glass Palace (by Amitav Ghosh)
Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by Amitav Ghosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her.
To stay abreast with what’s going on in Myanmar, whether that’s politics or general news, we’d recommend referring to the the webpages of the following media organisations.
Frontier Myanmar (https://frontiermyanmar.net/en)
An unbiased voice in transitional Myanmar and inform and entertain with a weekly review of current affairs and business, offering insights, analysis and understanding.
Irrawaddy (https://www.irrawaddy.com/)
The Irrawaddy’s mission is to cover the news in Myanmar and Southeast Asia accurately and impartially.
Tea Circle Oxford (https://teacircleoxford.com/)
Hosted by the Programme on Modern Burmese Studies at St Antony’s College at the University of Oxford, Tea Circle highlights analyses, research, and opinions from students, faculty, and community members at the University and beyond.
Myanmar Musings (https://soundcloud.com/myanmar-musings)
Myanmar Musings is the world’s leading podcast with researchers and thinkers on a wide range of issues relating to Myanmar.
Yangon Time Machine (http://yangontimemachine.com/)
One of the most fun and informative ways of learning about the country’s colonial history.
Voices for Momos (https://en.voicesformomos.org/)
A campaign launched in response to the Myanmar elephant poaching and skinning crisis. Visit this website to learn more about what individuals and organisations are doing to prevent it. You too can help by signing the petition.