ABSTRACT
In 2000, a new novel appeared on the Thai literary scene. Its author, Wimon Sainimnuan, was a rather minor figure in the literary circle, having published only a few novels and collections of short stories, all of which did not receive much attention. Only a few readers knew and appreciated the work of this young author. However, the young author's new novel in 2000, entitled Amata, which is Pali for 'immortal', gained the author nation-wide fame when it was awarded the SEA Write Award, the country's most prestigious literary prize. Shortly afterwards, sale of the novel skyrocketed, its author rose from relative obscurity to become one of Thailand's celebrities. The novel was much talked about and discussed not only among elite Thai literati, but also among the general public.
