Reporters on the Job: Finding banned novels in a Thai library
Check the Library: Given the tiny circulation of 鈥淰erisimilitude,鈥� the banned novel that , correspondent Simon Montlake wasn鈥檛 sure he could find a copy in Bangkok. 鈥淚 wanted to read what exactly had got him into trouble. And Harry鈥檚 own diligence helped me. In 2005, he sent a copy of the book to the National Library of Thailand, the equivalent of the US Library of Congress,鈥� says Simon.
Simon went there, expecting to find the book had been pulled from the shelves. 鈥淏ut to my surprise, it was there. I sat down and began reading, wondering if any of the library staff knew about the criminal case against the author. I doubt it, as Thai news media have ignored the case,鈥� says Simon.
The book isn鈥檛 available for loan, but Simon photocopied the offending passage 鈥� 100 or so words 鈥� and some other sections that seemed relevant to the novel鈥檚 theme. 鈥淭hen I put the book back on the shelves. It may still be there,鈥� he says.
