Please join us as we cordially invite you to the highly anticipated launch of “The Barefoot Billionaires”
on Saturday 3 August 2024, 2 – 4 PM
at Asia Books, 2nd floor, North Zone, Siam Paragon.
Event Details:
Date: August 3, 2024
Time:
- 14:10 PM – 15:00 PM (50 minutes) The Barefoot Billionaires Panel Discussion
- 15:05 PM – 15:50 PM (45 minutes) The Barefoot Billionaires Book signing Session
Venue: Asia Books, 2nd Floor, North Zone, Siam Paragon
Panel Discussion: The event will feature a panel discussion between the author of “The Barefoot Billionaires”, Khunying Vinita, along with Sartika Dian as the moderator, a foreign rights manager at Elite Creative literary agency, and Gassanee Thaisonthi, a veteran Thai writer, translator and simultaneous interpreter. The discussion will delve into the inspiration behind the book, the challenges of translating cultural humour, and the book’s journey from Thailand to an international audience.
Register for the Event in Advance:
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKPSCVqIovP82lJGvT6sS9p_WwTDt3KgsvY2IzLmJknph4TA/viewform
Join Zoom Meeting (Participation is limited to the specified dates and times):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6624480312
ID : 6624480312
Join Youtube Live (Participation is limited to the specified dates and times):
Link : https://youtube.com/live/Gy20-virvVk
Book Details:
The_Barefoot_Billionaires
BANGKOK, Thailand – Asia Books and Praphansarn Publishing House are delighted to announce the highly anticipated launch of “The Barefoot Billionaires”, the latest English work by the award-winning novelist and scholar, Khunying Vinita Diteeyont under the esteemed pen name “V. Vinicchayakul”. The event will take place on August 3 at Asia Books Siam Paragon, promising to be an exciting and insightful occasion for book lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike on the occasion of Asia Books reopening one of its flagship bookstores.
“The Barefoot Billionaires” is a cultural parody that blends Thai humour with universal themes, making it a compelling read for both local and international audiences. The story centres around Khunnai Lumyai, a witty and humorous female country bumpkin, and explores the contrasts between simple rural life and the complexities of urban existence. The book, originally written in Thai, has been expertly translated into English by Lucy Srisuphapreeda, capturing the essence of Khunying Vinita’s humour and cultural insights.
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,” Khunying Vinita shared.
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.
