Author Information:

Michael Backman is an art historian, economist & writer. He is the author of nine books that cover all aspects of Asia – from culture to politics & business, including the 'Malay Silver and Gold: Courtly Splendour from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei', a political biography of a Malaysian politician, and Asian Eclipse, named by The Economist as one of its books of the year, and which was nominated by the then Thai prime minister as a book that ‘all Thais should read’. He has had regular newspaper columns in Australia and Singapore, and is the founder of an eponymous Asian antiques gallery in central London which has sold to more than 40 museums worldwide. He has lived and worked in Australia, France, Indonesia and now lives permanently in London.