most Burmese vernacular schools used a Burmese translation of Cocks's A Short History of Burma or an abridged version of the Hmannan chronicle by Ba Tin of Mandalay. He finished writing the book in 1929 in Kangyidaunt, and the book was published in 1930. The book was an instant success. It was quickly adopted as a high school textbook in many schools throughout the country. Ba Than immediately began work on the second edition in 1930, adding more material based on works by Western historians such as A. Dalrymple, J. Gray, and D.G.E. Hall as well as feedback by Burmese scholars and writers such as Po Kya, Po Lat, and Theippan Maung Wa (who was a student of his at the Maha Buddhaghosa high school). On balance, according to historians Tun Aung Chain and Ni Ni Myint, the book primarily relies on the chronicles. At any rate, the book was published eight times between 1930 and 1952. But Ba Than did not live to see much of the success. He apparently died shortly after finishing work on the second edition in November 1930. The next two editions, likely published in 1932 and 1933, did not contain any new updates, and any forewords by the author. The next update to the book was overseen by Ba Than's brother Sein in 1934, and published as the fifth edition. Sein went on to publish the subsequent editions of the book. The sixth edition was just a second printing of the fifth edition while the seventh edition, published in 1951, contains updates to the day of Burmese independence, 4 January 1948. The book fell out of use from Burmese high schools after the 1950s, certainly after 1962. It was republished again in 1991 to raise the awareness of the book among the public. Notes References Bibliography Burmese writers 20th-century Burmese historians University of Yangon alumni 1870s births 1930s deaths