The King Never Smiles Analysis
On October 13, 2016, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand died at the age of 88. His death marks the end of the world’s longest reigning monarch, at 70 years of service. During this time, King Bhumibol became much beloved and respected, both within his country and without. In this op-ed, written by Paul Handley, esteemed writer of The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand’s Bhumibol Adulyadej, Paul utilizes choice diction to properly eulogize what he considers a great man and to shed light on some of the more controversial aspects of his regime. Bhumibol’s reign was marked by repeated military coups, where he would repeatedly side with the military over a democratically elected government. In describing his attempts to steer away from