ANCHALEE KONGRUT
A Thai author, whose works have been embraced by European readers, has been awarded the Ordre des Arts et Lettres medal by the French Ministry of Culture.
Saneh Sangsuk, 51, whose pen name is Daen-aran Saengthong, received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres medal from the French ambassador Laurent Bili on Friday.
The medal has been presented by the French government to eminent artists since 1957 in recognition of their contributions to the arts and literature, or the propagation of these fields.
The medals are classified in three grades - Commandeur, Officer and Chevalier (knight) - and are awarded to those working in the arts, ranging from Nobel prize laureates to popular actors such as Jude Law and rock musicians including David Bowie. Mr Saneh received the knight medal.
"As I am not a famous writer, there are many people who deserve this decoration [more]," he said.
Known for his hedonistic themes, stream of consciousness prose and long monologues, his works such as White Shadow (L'Ombre Blanches) received rave reviews and enjoyed brisk sales in European countries, particularly France.
Venom has been translated into English and was serialised in the Bangkok Post's Outlook section in 2001.
Mr Saneh, a native of Phetchaburi, is the third Thai citizen to receive the medal, after national artist and architect Sumet Jumsai na Ayutthaya and the late Amphan O-trakul, who translated the major works of Albert Camus and Antoine de Saint Exupery into Thai.
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