Ngarmpun Vejjajiva
Encyclopedia
Ngarmpun Vejjajiva is a Thai
novelist and translator. She was the recipient of the S.E.A. Write Award
for Thailand in 2006 for her first novel, The Happiness of Kati. A wheelchair
user, she has had cerebal palsy since birth and finds comfort in immersing herself in the imaginary world of reading and writing. As is customary for Thais, she has a short nickname, thus many people know her as "Jane". Ngarmpun is the sister of Thailand
's current Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva
.
at age 3 and grew up in Bangkok
. She graduated with first class honors with gold medal from Thammasat University
with a bachelor of arts degree in French literature. She then studied French
, Italian
and English
at the Translators and Interpreters School in Brussels
.
agency, Silkroad Publishers Agency.
She also works as freelance translator, with her works including Seta by Alessandro Baricco
, Lemoine et le philisophe by Jean-François Revel
and Mathieu Ricard and The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White. Other translations include J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
, Kate Dicamillo
's The Tale of Desperaux and Emmanuel Dongala
's Les Petits Enfants Naissent Aussi des Etoiles (Little Children Are Also Born From Stars).
and frying pan
, which served as the beginnings of characters for the children's story. The Happiness of Kati is about a young Thai girl mourning the death of her mother yet also enjoying life in a small Thai
village on the banks of the Chao Phraya River
, living with her grandmother and cousins.
The book was published by Praew Books, an imprint of Amarin Printing and Publishing, and has been translated into English, German, Japanese, French and Catalan.
Although generally well received, The Happiness of Kati has received some criticism for its simplistic and bourgeois portrayal of Thai rural life.
A sequel, entitled The Happiness of Kati: Chasing the Moon (ความสุขของกะทิ ตอน ตามหาพระจันทร์) was published in Thai in 2006.
Aside from her novels, Ngarmpun has also written short stories for magazines.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
novelist and translator. She was the recipient of the S.E.A. Write Award
S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that has been presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia....
for Thailand in 2006 for her first novel, The Happiness of Kati. A wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user, she has had cerebal palsy since birth and finds comfort in immersing herself in the imaginary world of reading and writing. As is customary for Thais, she has a short nickname, thus many people know her as "Jane". Ngarmpun is the sister of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
's current Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
.
Early life
Born in England, where her parents were completing their medical studies, she returned to ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
at age 3 and grew up in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. She graduated with first class honors with gold medal from Thammasat University
Thammasat University
Thammasat University , or in brief TU , is Thailand's second oldest university. Officially established on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by founder Pridi Banomyong, University of Moral Science and Politics , reflecting the political fervor of the time...
with a bachelor of arts degree in French literature. She then studied French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the Translators and Interpreters School in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Career
She started her career as translator in a magazine publisher in 1988 before setting up her own company, publishing and editing a children's magazine until 1995. She is now managing director of a copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
agency, Silkroad Publishers Agency.
She also works as freelance translator, with her works including Seta by Alessandro Baricco
Alessandro Baricco
Alessandro Baricco is a popular Italian writer, director and performer. His novels have been translated into a wide number of languages...
, Lemoine et le philisophe by Jean-François Revel
Jean-François Revel
Jean-François Revel was a French politician, journalist, author, prolific philosopher and member of the Académie française from June 1998...
and Mathieu Ricard and The Trumpet of the Swan
The Trumpet of the Swan
The Trumpet of the Swan is a children's novel by E.B. White published in 1970. It tells the story of Louis, a Trumpeter Swan born without a voice and trying to overcome it by learning to play a trumpet, always trying to impress a beautiful pen named Serena.-Plot summary:In Canada in the spring of...
by E.B. White. Other translations include J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling, published on 8 July 2000.The novel won a Hugo Award in 2001, the only Harry Potter novel to do so...
, Kate Dicamillo
Kate DiCamillo
Katrina Elizabeth "Kate" DiCamillo is an American children's author. She is known for the Newbery Medal-winning book The Tale of Despereaux, the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, and the Mercy Watson series, plus numerous other award-winning and honored books.-Early life:Born in...
's The Tale of Desperaux and Emmanuel Dongala
Emmanuel Dongala
Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala is a Congolese chemist and novelist. He is currently Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock....
's Les Petits Enfants Naissent Aussi des Etoiles (Little Children Are Also Born From Stars).
Novels
Her first novel, The Happiness of Kati (ความสุขของกะทิ), came about during a rare one-month break from her translation work. Always wanting to write a novel, but never having the time, Ngarmpun was inspired one day while working in the kitchen with a spatulaSpatula
The term spatula is used to refer to various small implements with a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift materials including foods, drugs, plaster and paints...
and frying pan
Frying pan
A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small grab handle opposite the main handle...
, which served as the beginnings of characters for the children's story. The Happiness of Kati is about a young Thai girl mourning the death of her mother yet also enjoying life in a small Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
village on the banks of the Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
, living with her grandmother and cousins.
The book was published by Praew Books, an imprint of Amarin Printing and Publishing, and has been translated into English, German, Japanese, French and Catalan.
Although generally well received, The Happiness of Kati has received some criticism for its simplistic and bourgeois portrayal of Thai rural life.
A sequel, entitled The Happiness of Kati: Chasing the Moon (ความสุขของกะทิ ตอน ตามหาพระจันทร์) was published in Thai in 2006.
Aside from her novels, Ngarmpun has also written short stories for magazines.
See also
- Abhisit VejjajivaAbhisit VejjajivaAbhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...