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I am a literary archaeologist. I’m also an independent researcher, editor, author, publisher, and translator, but my real passion is finding and restoring extraordinary publications that have slipped into obscurity and become lost over time.

Having worked and traveled extensively in Southeast Asia since 1990, my wife Sophaphan and I founded DatAsia Press in 2005 (www.DatAsia.us) to focus on publishing, research and education in that region. Projects expand with curiosity.

Initially we did extensive research documenting the devata (sacred female) images carved in stone in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos (see Devata.org). In 2007, we funded construction of Srei Devata Middle School in Baray, Kompong Thom through American Assistance for Cambodia.

As publishers, we strive to restore the works and reputations of forgotten authors who made noteworthy contributions to literature, both fiction and non-fiction, by reviving out-of-print books as expanded modern editions with added academic analysis, supplemental materials, illustrations, and original translations.

Many of the topics relate to Southeast Asia and French Indochina from ancient to modern times, but our interests also include Belle Époque writers and artists.

All of our books are available worldwide on Amazon.

I hope you enjoy some of the samples below.

If you wish to contact me please use my personal email.

With best regards,

Kent Davis
kentdavis@gmail.com

***Authors and Artists Relating to DatAsia Projects***

Campbell, Reginald
Candee, Helen Churchill
Cravath, Paul
Dassier, Pierre
Despujols, Jean
Fievet, Maurice
Groslier, George
Hervey, Harry
Joyeux, André
Krueger, Kermit
Legendre, Gertrude & Sidney
Long, Nguyen Phan
McIntosh, Elizabeth
Marchal, Sappho
Meyer, Roland
Monod, G. H.
Montague, Joel
Nézière, Joseph de la
Orazi, Manuel
Osborne, Milton
Phal, Makhali
Reid, Eric
Rey, Pierre
Rivière, Paul Louis
Rosny, J.-H. aîné (Enacryos)
Ruffé, Baron Réginald Auxion de
Schwartzenberg, Baron Willem Herman
So, Kenneth
Sparrow, Gerald
Uk, Solang
Waleffe, Maurice de
Wegener, Gerda
less

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Books by Kent Davis

The Battle by Claude Farrère, 2025
Nagasaki, 1905. War looms between Russia and Japan. Amidst escalating tensions, the captivating M...Nagasaki, 1905. War looms between Russia and Japan. Amidst escalating tensions, the captivating Marquise Mitsouko Yorisaka and her naval officer husband stand at a dangerous crossroads. Embracing Western modernity, the couple navigates a treacherous path between ancient traditions and the urgent needs of an empire on the brink of destruction.

As the Russian battleship fleet hurtles towards the decisive Battle of Tsushima, Mitsouko becomes central to a subtle game of espionage, charming British liaison Herbert Fergan in a high-stakes game to glean secrets that could alter history. Unexpectedly, renowned French portraitist Jean-François Felze steps into this world, commissioned by the Marquise to render her portrait, unwittingly being drawn into a web of duty and desire.

Prix Goncourt award-winning author, and career French naval officer, Claude Farrère plunges readers headfirst into the heart of the conflict – from intimate salons rife with intrigue to the thunderous, visceral, bloody reality of the first (and last) great clash between modern battleship fleets. Beyond a war story, The Battle explores the depths of the human spirit and the staggering sacrifices demanded when cultures collide.

This landmark DatAsia Press edition presents Farrère's masterpiece anew, featuring the first nuanced English translation, Farrère’s original preface, extensive annotations, maps, historical context, interpretive analysis, and 108 painstakingly restored color illustrations by Charles Fouqueray from the 1925 limited edition. Discover a story of love, sacrifice, and human souls tested amidst a world-altering collision of East and West.
‘The Civilized’ by Claude Farrère – First English language edition, 2025
In 1905, the prestigious Prix Goncourt judges awarded the prize to a novel by then-unknown French...In 1905, the prestigious Prix Goncourt judges awarded the prize to a novel by then-unknown French naval officer, Claude Farrère. Their decision ignited furious debates in literary circles. Set in colonial Saigon, The Civilized exposed the dark underbelly of France’s "civilizing mission" through a graphic tale of addiction, adultery, desire, debauchery, and moral decay. While outraging the establishment, the book captivated readers worldwide. Controversy only fueled the book’s success: within six years, The Civilized saw 55 printings, followed by nearly 100 more in eight languages.
...
Now, 120 years later, DatAsia Press presents the first English-language edition of Farrère’s provocative masterwork about moral decay festering at the Empire’s edge and featuring Henri LeRiche’s stunning 1926 illustrations.
...
An eloquent foreword by distinguished University of Nantes professor Henri Copin and Editor Kent Davis establishes modern context for the nuanced literary translation by Pedro Rodríguez that brings the author’s prose to life.
...
Extensive annotations illuminate the novel’s early-20th century colonial setting, along with maps, details of the Goncourt Prize judges, and an analysis of contemporary reviews revealing why this daring exposé of the colonial dark side remains as relevant today as when it first scandalized Belle Époque France.
Java Girl: A Romance of the Dutch West Indies, 2020
"In search of his future, a young Dutchman travels south of the equator to join his older brother..."In search of his future, a young Dutchman travels south of the equator to join his older brother supervising a sugar plantation on Java, circa 1900. From the day he arrives, he struggles to adapt to social, cultural, and sexual mores that are alien, even contradictory, to all his previous life experiences."

Born in Holland in 1879, author Baron Schwartzenberg also worked on Java as a young man. Three decades later he was driven to enlist journalist Mary Bennett Harrison to help him create this fictional story. How many vignettes, characters, or women he drew from actual experiences is unknown. But as you’ll discover, this highly credible colonial romance rings true.

After a 90-year hiatus, literary archaeologist Kent Davis revives the Baron’s 1931 novel as an expanded, 538-page, modern edition with nearly 300 period photos showing Javanese people and places featured in the text. Plus appendices with publisher’s notes; author bios; Davis’ article "Javanese Women in Photos: Emerging Technologies and World Views"; excerpts from the 1912 travel guide, Isles of the East, and the 1929 book Malay Poisons and Charm Cures; a glossary of Indonesian terms; and regional maps.
The first English translation of author George Groslier's 2,000 km Mekong River journeys to inspe...The first English translation of author George Groslier's 2,000 km Mekong River journeys to inspect Buddhist pagodas in 1929 French Indochina. The renowned artist, writer and historian was the quintessential witness to colonial Cambodia. This new fully illustrated edition includes supplemental appendices and the complete original French text.
Could an exotic place and culture inspire two writers to craft strikingly similar stories? Do gre...Could an exotic place and culture inspire two writers to craft strikingly similar stories? Do great literary minds think alike? This detailed analysis examines unusual parallels between Graham Greene's famous 1955 novel "The Quiet American," and the obscure 1927 work "Congai," by gay American author Harry Hervey who related his story of another murder, another Asian mistress and another American in Saigon decades earlier.
Au début du 20ème siècle, auteur engagé, Nguyễn Phan Long lutta pour l’égalité politique et cultu...Au début du 20ème siècle, auteur engagé, Nguyễn Phan Long lutta pour l’égalité politique et culturelle en Indochine Française ; enfin, il devint le Premier ministre de l’État du Viêt Nam en 1950. Avec "Le Roman de Mademoiselle Lys" — l’un des premiers romans français écrits par un Vietnamien — il nous offre un « livre d’idées autant qu’une œuvre d’imagination ». Il y raconte la quête culturelle, spirituelle et personnelle de Hai, une jeune femme brillante déchirée entre deux cultures.
Born of an Annamite mother and French father, Thi-Linh—a creature of fragile beauty and savage in...Born of an Annamite mother and French father, Thi-Linh—a creature of fragile beauty and savage instinct—embodies the dreams, ambitions and future of Indochina, where two disparate races struggled to become one.

This expanded modern edition features a provocative foreword by renowned travel writer Pico Iyer; biographer Harlan Greene’s author profile, "Through a Woman’s Eyes: Congai, Heroines & Harry Hervey"; supplemental articles and a bibliography of Hervey’s complete works.
George Groslier—one of the greatest witnesses of colonial Cambodia—won the 1929 Grand Prix de Lit...George Groslier—one of the greatest witnesses of colonial Cambodia—won the 1929 Grand Prix de Littérature Coloniale for his tour de force novel, presented here in English for the first time, with the complete original French text.
On June 6, 1913, George Groslier, a twenty-six year old French explorer, set out with a small gro...On June 6, 1913, George Groslier, a twenty-six year old French explorer, set out with a small group of native porters on a six-month trek into the Cambodian wilderness.

A millennium earlier, the Khmer empire had ruled the entire region. In the 15th century, however, the kingdom mysteriously collapsed, with dense jungle quickly covering its fabulous temples. The French government charged Groslier with documenting the most remote edifices of the Khmer legacy — among them Preah Vihear, Wat Phu, Beng Melea and Banteay Chhmar — sites that remain isolated even a century later.

This modern edition — enhanced with 75 period illustrations and detailed appendices — offers readers the first English translation of the dangers, discoveries and people encountered on his solitary adventure. Groslier’s impressions and insights still fascinate those who, even today, seek answers in the ancient shrines of Cambodia.
Harry Hervey’s rare account takes us on a quest for a lost Khmer temple in 1925 French Indochina....Harry Hervey’s rare account takes us on a quest for a lost Khmer temple in 1925 French Indochina. Three stories march side-by-side to the measure of his cadenced prose: the impact of French colonialism on the Far East; the tale of the glorious Khmer civilization; and the sensual, barbaric lives of the region’s people in another era.

Renowned travel writer Pico Iyer opens with a provocative foreword, then we join Hervey on his trek, now lavishly illustrated with 140 vintage Indochina images by the author and from historian Joel Montague.

This expanded edition features an extensive author profile: "Harry Hervey: The Charmer Behind the Cobra," by biographer Harlan Greene; a bibliography; anthropologist Margaret Mead’s 1928 review; and Hervey’s gruesome essay inspired by his Indochina voyage, "The Lover of Madame Guillotine."
In 1898, the 23-year-old Guillaume Henri Monod traveled to French Indochina to seek his destiny i...In 1898, the 23-year-old Guillaume Henri Monod traveled to French Indochina to seek his destiny in the exotic Kingdom of Cambodia. Located at the crossroads between the great civilizations of India and China, the fabulous Khmer Empire blossomed here more than a millennium ago.

Monod befriended many Cambodians while pursuing his passionate study of their ancient culture. One friend, Governor Khieu of the Pursat Province, shared his land’s rich legends with Monod, inspiring him to record them for future generations in 1922.

In this new edition—translated to English for the first time by Cambodian author and scholar Solang Uk—you’ll find that the wit, wisdom, humor and morals of these lively tales comes in many forms, never failing to surprise, perplex and amuse spellbound audiences.
Research paper thumbnail of La Terre de Bouddha - Artistic Impressions of French Indochina (French-English edition)
La Terre de Bouddha - Artistic Impressions of French Indochina (French-English edition)
In 1923, French artist André Joyeux published a limited edition, visually stunning homage to Indo...In 1923, French artist André Joyeux published a limited edition, visually stunning homage to Indochina, and to his friend Pierre Rey, who was killed in action during WWI. His concept revolved around French sonnets by Rey (nom de plume of Capitaine Paul Philibert Régnier), enhanced with 33 original watercolors by Joyeux, and a foreword by Albert Sarraut. Their artistic vision of the land, its customs and its people offers readers rare glimpses of colonial Indochina.

In this modern, full-color hardcover edition, graphic designer Rebecca Klein hand-retouched each of Joyeux's original watercolors, adapting their elements to fit this larger format. To introduce this important French Colonial work to new audiences, an English language translation of M. Albert Sarraut's foreword is provided, with a biographical profile of both artists in a preface by researcher Joel Montague. Edited by Kent Davis.

NOTE: Visit the Amazon listing to see a full-color preview of this book.
Since the dawn of recorded history, Khmer royalty nurtured a sacred dance style unique to their A...Since the dawn of recorded history, Khmer royalty nurtured a sacred dance style unique to their Asian kingdom, yet instantly recognizable throughout the world. In 1913, the Cambodia-born French artist George Groslier published the first Western study of this ancient art. For a century, "Danseuses Cambodgiennes Anciennes & Modernes" has stood as the foundation of understanding Cambodia’s royal dance tradition.

Princess Buppha Devi of Cambodia, the living embodiment of the dance tradition, introduces this important new work, with a foreword by Paul Cravath, author of the most comprehensive modern study of the dance, "Earth in Flower." This volume is the first English translation of Groslier's pivotal work, beautifully typeset with all the author’s original drawings. It also features the first detailed account of Groslier's life by biographer Kent Davis, with family photos, extensive background materials, a bibliography and index.

The first French child born in Cambodia in 1887, Groslier went to Paris to train as a painter before returning to Asia to become an archaeologist, historian, educator and novelist. A lifelong champion of Khmer arts, Groslier founded the National Museum of Cambodia and the School of Fine Arts.

This book was the first in a series of works Groslier wrote about the culture, art and history of his beloved birthplace. Time tamed his prose but never his enthusiasm, which leaps off the in "Cambodian Dancers," which the author published when he was only 25-years-old.

PDF OVERVIEW
The downloadable PDF overview contains the book details including the introduction by Princess Buppha Devi, foreword by Paul Cravath, table of contents, production credits, and index.

QUOTES

"It is my pleasure to introduce new generations of readers to this classic account of Cambodia’s royal dance tradition."
H.R.H. Princess Norodom Buppha Devi

"You returned here as if marked by destiny, the most restless artist we had ever encountered to devote himself to Cambodian dancers and their secrets."
Charles Gravelle - 1913

"The first commentary in any language—Asian or European—on one of the world’s most refined performing arts."
Dr. Paul Cravath - Earth in Flower""
Helen Candee's Asian tale of travel adventure remains one of the most evocative English language ...Helen Candee's Asian tale of travel adventure remains one of the most evocative English language accounts of a visit to Cambodia's ancient capital of the Khmer civilization. This expanded hardcover edition includes the author's complete 1924 work with more than 100 illustrations, an original biography of Candee by historian Randy Bryan Bigham and the author's account of surviving the "Titanic" disaster. With index and bibliography.

The downloadable 38-page PDF includes: cover images; table of contents, list of illustrations; publisher foreword; author introduction "A Forecast"; opening pages of "Life's Decor," an author biography by Randy Bryan Bigham; Bigham's introduction to "Sealed Orders," Candee's account of the Titanic sinking; and the index.
"An extraordinary analysis of Southeast Asia’s most esoteric female performing art: the ancient C..."An extraordinary analysis of Southeast Asia’s most esoteric female performing art: the ancient Cambodian ballet. A wartime twist of fate made the author one of the only Westerners in history to gain full access to the formerly sequestered troupe of royal dancers, their teachers, theater and archives. Over the past millennium, these women were goddesses, priestesses, queens, concubines, hostages and diplomats. Earth in Flower reveals the complete details of their tradition for the first time.

The 62-page PDF preview here includes: front and back covers; table of contents, list of photos and illustrations; complete front matters (publisher's foreword, author preface, acknowledgements and introduction); the full text of chapter 1, "Introduction: Sources of the Study"; and the index."

Papers by Kent Davis

2010 20th International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 2010
We propose a framework for clustering and visualization of images of face carvings at archaeologi...We propose a framework for clustering and visualization of images of face carvings at archaeological sites. The pairwise similarities among face carvings are computed by performing Procrustes analysis on local facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.). The distance between corresponding face features is computed using point distribution models; the final pairwise similarity is the weighted sum of feature similarities. A web-based interface is provided to allow domain experts to interactively assign different weights to each face feature, and display hierarchical clustering results in 2D or 3D projections obtained by multidimensional scaling. The proposed framework has been successfully applied to the devata goddesses depicted in the ancient Angkor Wat temple. The resulting clusterings and visualization will enable a systematic anthropological, ethnological and artistic analysis of nearly 1,800 stone portraits of devatas of Angkor Wat.
We propose a framework for clustering and visualization of images of face carvings at archaeologi...We propose a framework for clustering and visualization of images of face carvings at archaeological sites.

The pairwise similarities among face carvings are computed by performing Procrustes analysis on local facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.). The distance between corresponding face features is computed using point distribution models; the final pairwise similarity is the weighted sum of feature similarities.

A web-based interface is provided to allow domain experts to interactively assign different weights to each face feature, and display hierarchical clustering results in 2D or 3D projections obtained by multidimensional scaling. The proposed framework has been successfully applied to the devata goddesses depicted in the ancient Angkor Wat temple. The resulting clusterings and visualization will enable a systematic anthropological, ethnological and artistic analysis of nearly 1,800 stone portraits of devatas of Angkor Wat.

Talks by Kent Davis

2023-02-Khmer Times Interview with George Groslier's Biographer Kent Davis, 2023
On Monday, February 4, 2023, exactly 136 years ago, the first French baby was born in Cambodia to...On Monday, February 4, 2023, exactly 136 years ago, the first French baby was born in Cambodia to civil servant Antoine-Georges Groslier and his wife Angélina. The baby, who was named George Groslier, grew up to become the founder of the National Museum and École des arts Cambodgiens, which would become the Royal University of Fine Arts, as well as a writer and scholar who introduced Cambodia to the World.

In 2019, the Khmer Times talked to his biographer Kent Davis, who has republished five of Groslier's books in English for the first time and is now working on restoring and reimaging personal pictures of Groslier.

This 8-page paper contains the interview, details of Groslier's books in English, and links to online resources:

1913 - Cambodian Dancers, Ancient and Modern
1916 - In the Shadow of Angkor - Unknown Temples of Ancient Cambodia
1926 - The Road of the Strong: A Romance of Colonial Cambodia
1928 - Return to Clay - A Romance of Colonial Cambodia
1929 - Water and Light - A Travel Journal of the Cambodian Mekong

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