ANGKOR OBSERVED consists of a selection of early travellers" impressions of the Khmer empire"s ancient, 12th-century capital and the legends that inspired the majestic stone temples of Angkor, which were described by a visitor in the 1920s as "the most impressive sight in the world of edifices". The work brings to the reader out-of-print impressions of early western travellers, including tales and legends based on the oral tradtition, published for the first time. Rooney, an art historian specialising in Southeast Asia who has made over fifty trips to Angkor since it reopened in 1991 not only offers luminous insight to the temples, and suggested itineraries, but also her expertise on the geography, history, religion art and architecture of Angkor. This guidebook will be a fascinating companion to the traveller and armchair traveller. It will be of interest to those who have travelled there and are inspired to explore further.