The Golden Voice – a graphic novel I look forward to reviewing

The ballad of Cambodia’s lost queen – Ros Serey Sothea

Prepared over more than two years with exquisite graphics, this novel tells the true story of beloved Cambodian singer Ros Serey Sothea, whose “Golden Voice” helped define Cambodia’s Golden Age of music until her mysterious disappearance in the killing fields of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge. Developed in partnership with Sothea’s family the story is one I look forward to reviewing. Published in Khmer as well as English the 187pp book would make excellent teaching material in the modern Cambodian classroom.

I followed progress of the novel via the late twitter site and have loved the colours that capture the distinct light in Cambodia but also the faded Kodachrome quality that evokes a deep sense of nostalgia.

The illustrations are rich and evocative.

For more on popular music in Cambodia see also Sinn Sisamouth and the golden age of Khmer pop, New Cambodian Movie – In the Life of Music, and Cambodian Pop -celebrates a rural idyll as well as the glorious story of how rap found its way to Phnom Penh: An unlikely outcome – how praCh Ly’s Khmer rap music opened up and healed old war wounds