Book excerpt: This guide covers the history and art of the early Kingdom of Sukhothai, which was situated in the fertile Yam River basin of north-central Thailand and comprises the cities of Sukhothai, Si Stachanalai and Kamphaeng Phet. Renowned for artistic achievement in the mid-thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, influences from earlier inhabitants of the area and neighbouring kingdoms were overlaid with Theravada Buddhist ideas from Sinhalese culture to create a unique style that is recognized today as 'classic' Thai art. As well as providing an in-depth survey of over 80 temples in the three sites and highlighting the masterpieces from related museums, author Dawn Rooney discusses the art and architecture of the period, with a special section on ceramics. The author takes the reader on a journey to the early Kingdom of Sukhothai and explores the remains and cultural heritage of this sacred site. AUTHOR: Dawn Rooney has lived and worked in Thailand for 30 years and is an expert in Southeast Asian Art. She has a PhD in ceramics. 395 colour illustrations