Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is famous for its legendary relationships with internationally acclaimed authors throughout it’s rich 135 year history. These relationships have inspired the names of the suites honoring those famous authors who have resided there.

The Heritage Authors’ Suites are individually fashioned to showcase the personalities of four literary greats:  Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener. These rooms are from the original 135 year-old structure overlooking the Chao Phraya River, and possess an Old World elegance with the Victorian-style bathrooms and lush interior fashioned with Thai silks and teakwood. 

Joseph Conrad visited the hotel in 1888 when he was acting commander of the ship the Otago. It was his first and only visit to Bangkok, as well as first and only seagoing command. He did not actually register at the hotel, but frequented the Bar during his stay.

Somerset Maugham first stayed in the original building in 1923 when he arrived via train from Chiang Mai and returned in 1925. It was during this time that he penned part of his novel “The Gentleman in the Parlor” where he mentioned ‘The Oriental Hotel’. Maugham’s last visit was in 1960 when he was 85 years-old.

The Authors’ Suites located in the River Wing Building further reflect the identities of famous individuals: Barbara Cartland, Gore Vidal, Graham Greene, Wilbur Smith, John le Carré, Norman Mailer, Jim Thompson and Kukrit Pramoj. The latter was the former Prime Minister of Thailand in the seventies, as well as a formidable author whose novel “The Four Reigns” is regarded as a classic in contemporary Thai literature.

Continuing with the literary vein at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, the ‘Southeast Asian (S.E.A.) Write Awards’ were created in early 1979 to encourage writers in the ASEAN countries and to bring recognition to the creative literary talents of the region. Now in it’s 33rd year, the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is proud to host the 2011 S.E.A Write Awards scheduled for 7 October with the Awards Dinner graciously presided by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Price Maha Vajiralongkorn and Princess Srirasm. Throughout the decades many notable writers have been invited to act as keynote speaker for the literary event: Paul Theroux, Norman Mailer, Iris Murdoch, Pico Iyer, Rita Dove and Frederick Forsyth. This year Simon Winchester, OBE, a well-known British writer, journalist and broadcaster, will be keynote speaker.

The idea for the award emerged from the hotel’s incredible literary history and discussions with Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd., and the Italthai Group of Companies.  His Highness Prince Prem Purachatra is the Chairperson of the Organising Committee, supported by the ‘PEN Club of Thailand’ as well as the ‘Writers’ Association of Thailand’. More recently the  Jim Thompson Foundation, Bangkok Public Co., Ltd. and Thai Beverage Public Co., Ltd. joined the Organising Committee.