King's Dog Book Sells Out on First Day

Nov 26, 9:26 am ET

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A book written by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej about his pet dog, Thongdaeng, has sold out on its first day in bookshops. "It just shows how much people love the king," said Visan Praweenthatsanee, a bookshop manager in the capital Bangkok. "People have come from all around the country today, with some leaving at 5 a.m. to join the queue outside the shop."

After 100,000 copies sold out within hours, publishers said they would print more copies of the book, which traces Thongdaeng's life from her birth as a stray to being sent, crying, to the royal palace as a gift.

"Strangely enough, once she had been presented to His Majesty, she stopped crying, and crawled to nestle on his lap, as if to entrust her life to his care, and fell fast asleep, free from all worries, loneliness and fear," the books says.

The king, 74, describes Thongdaeng, who can pick and peel coconuts to drink the juice, as intelligent, loyal and always polite.

[Okay, break time. go pet your pet[s].]

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2002

Answers

Thai King Bhubibol Adulyadej enjoys time with his favorite pet dog Tongdaeng in Bangkok on February 13, 2002. Publisher Amarin Printing said the King's new book, entitled 'The Story of Tongdaeng,' would hit the stores on Tuesday and they expected the first edition of 100,000 copies to sell out quickly.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2002

AWWWWW! Take that Gore Bore!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2002