Narin Phasit was one of the most remarkable yet little-known figures in the annals of Thai history, a man who devoted his life to what the seventh king of Siam called "seeking a name for himself in a wildly inappropriate manner," and he himself preferred to describe as "working contentedly for my country, alone and despised by my fellow countrymen."

For what reason was Narin so despised? During the period of the absolute monarchy, he insisted that government officials should be held accountable for their actions, and in the years that followed the revolution he spoke out strongly...