Titanic Survivor's Helen Churchill Candee recounts her Cambodian adventure of the 1920's in her book, "Angkor the Magnificent"

Titanic Survivor's Asian Adventure at Angkor Wat Resurfaces
2 hours, 31 minutes ago



April 15th marks the 96th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS
Titanic, but surviving that disaster was a mere footnote in the
unusual life of writer Helen Churchill Candee. Her book, "Angkor the
Magnificent," recounts her Cambodian adventure of the 1920's,
supplemented by more than 100 antique photos and an original biography
by historian Randy Bryan Bigham.


Holmes Beach, FL (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- "The tale of it is
incredible; the wonder which is Angkor is unmatched in Asia." So
begins Helen Churchill Candee's 1924 tale of Asian adventure. Today,
visitors can again experience the mystery of Cambodia's vast jungle
temples through her eyes in a modern expanded edition of Angkor the
Magnificent (ISBN: 978-1-934431-00-1).

April 15th marks the 96th anniversary of history's most infamous
maritime disaster, the sinking of the RMS Titanic. But for Helen
Candee, surviving the Titanic was a minor event compared to her other
life credentials, which include authoring one of the most popular
early accounts of travel to exotic Cambodia, Angkor Wat, and the
temples of the ancient Khmers.

Helen Candee walked with kings, presidents, the wealthy and the
powerful... entertaining, educating and influencing them. This
independent woman supported herself and her family in an era when
women were expected to depend on men. She championed feminine equality
and fought tirelessly for woman's rights. And, as a single woman, she
traveled the Far East with a keen eye for detail, an inquisitive mind,
and a sensitivity for local culture.

Angkor the Magnificent is far more than a tale of early 20th century
Asian travel. Candee's insights are enlightening, elegant and
frequently witty as she relates the history, culture and context of
Angkor's ancient monuments. By her hand, we have one of the first
significant works on Cambodia in the English language.

Historian Randy Bryan Bigham prefaces this edition with Life's Décor,
the first original biography of Candee ever to appear in print. Bigham
relates "Surviving the RMS Titanic was just a random event in Helen
Churchill Candee's extraordinary life. She was a most unconventional
Victorian woman." Bigham's detailed biography recounts her
accomplishments as an author, Orientalist, designer, trendsetter,
political insider and lifelong advocate for women's rights.

The 2008 hardcover edition of Angkor the Magnificent (ISBN:
978-1-934431-00-1) includes Helen Candee's biography; her complete
1924 account of Southeast Asian travel; more than 120 illustrations of
Cambodia, RMS Titanic and the author; Candee's first person account of
the Titanic disaster; a bibliography and index.

As Helen Candee herself described this tale, "...the news is leaking out
to the great world that loves a new sensation that there are secrets
to be pried open in Cambodia, and special marvels to be seen...." Nearly
90 years later, this amazing woman's Oriental insights are as
stimulating and relevant as the day she wrote them.

Biographer: Randy Bryan Bigham is a journalist, author and historian
specializing in Edwardian era cultural history. He has worked with the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Museum of London; the Titanic Museum;
and the National Geographic Channel. Bigham is now editor for a
Metroplex newspaper in Dallas, Texas.

Publisher: DatASIA, Inc. is an independent publisher affiliated with
PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association and SPAN, Small
Publishers of North America. The company has offices in Florida, USA
and Bangkok, Thailand.
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