Story by Pairat Temphairojana
Photographs by Sirirat Soonsakul
In an exclusive interview with Elite+ magazine, Khunying Vinita Diteeyont, the award-winning novelist and accomplished scholar, shares the inspiration and vision behind her latest work, The Barefoot Billionaires. The book, which has already seen significant success in Thailand, is now poised for its English debut, translated by Lucy Srisuphapreeda.
Khunying Vinita’s journey in writing The Barefoot Billionaires is deeply rooted in her experiences as a lecturer at Silpakorn University’s Nakhon Pathom campus. “After graduating, I became a lecturer at Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom campus. The town, even though not far from Bangkok, was small and rural. I was surrounded by country people. When I decided to settle down there, I found that my neighbours, while leading simple lives, were not poor. They own rice fields, orchards or other agricultural products that give them more money than a professor’s monthly payment. Then came the idea of rich country people,” she recalls.
The central character, Khunnai Lumyai, a female country bumpkin, serves as the heart of this humorous yet poignant story. “Khunnai Lumyai is a parody, as well as the story itself. She is a female country bumpkin with sharp wit and humour, representing Thai people’s good humour and the motto, ‘Mai Pen Rai’ (Never mind). I intended to make her a humorous character to attract readers of all ages,” explains Khunying Vinita. The contrast between the simple, wealthy, rural folk and the more serious city dwellers deepens the narrative, creating a rich tapestry of characters and themes.
Lucy Srisuphapreeda, the translator of The Barefoot Billionaires, shared her perspective on bringing this unique story to an international audience. “International readers will find the story entertaining and compelling, and the characters relatable. The themes of snobbery, social status, keeping up appearances and city versus countryside will resonate across cultures,” she states. Lucy’s translation captures the essence of Khunying Vinita’s humour and the vibrant cultural backdrop of rural Thailand, making it accessible to readers worldwide.
The book’s reception in Thailand has been overwhelmingly positive, having been adapted into TV series multiple times. Khunying Vinita is optimistic about its international reception. “It was popular in Thailand. It has been made into a TV series four times and has had many editions. Internationally? Well, the journey has just begun,” she says.
Khunying Vinita’s approach to balancing humour with serious themes is evident in her storytelling. By dividing the characters into two groups—the serious city people and the humorous country ones—she creates a contrast that highlights their unique characteristics. This method not only entertains, but also provides a deeper understanding of Thai culture and values.
Lucy’s journey as the translator of this work began serendipitously. “I decided to translate the book after Khunying Vinita generously gave it to me as a present. I thought it was a humorous and entertaining story that would be fun to translate. When I sent my translation to Khunying Vinita, I did not expect her to send it to a publisher, but she enjoyed it so much that she thought English-speaking readers would like it, too,” Lucy shares. Her dedication to maintaining the authenticity of the characters shines through in the translated version.
Lucy elaborates on the challenges and joys of translating cultural nuances and humour. “I think English-speaking readers will enjoy learning about Thai customs and culture, and I believe the humour is universal, so translating the humorous parts was not too challenging. I just translated the dialogue in the way I thought each character would sound if they had been speaking English,” she explains.
Khunying Vinita’s creative journey is far from over. She revealed some of her upcoming projects, which include a fictional historical novel set during the reign of King Rama V. This intriguing story dates back to 1904, when the King, along with a few courtiers, disguised themselves as commoners to visit his country’s people. Being unaware that the gentleman was the King, a miller asked him to become a foster father to his youngest son to provide the child with better educational opportunities. This boy eventually grew up to be a prominent magistrate in Siam.
As preparations are underway for The Barefoot Billionaires English launch at Asia Books in Siam Paragon, the anticipation is palpable. This book promises to offer readers a humorous yet insightful exploration of Thai culture and the universal themes of wealth, social status and tradition versus modernity. Both Khunying Vinita Diteeyont’s storytelling and Lucy Srisuphapreeda’s translation have crafted a work that is set to captivate audiences globally, celebrating the richness of Thai literature and culture.
The launch event is expected to be a significant milestone, marking the book’s journey from the rice fields of rural Thailand to the bookshelves of readers around the world. As Khunying Vinita looks forward to this new chapter, she remains hopeful that The Barefoot Billionaires will be cherished internationally as it has been in its home country.
