Larry Cashman, the Lovable Rogue and Scoundrel – has led an extraordinary life. The Cashman Chronicles recounts the story of Cashman’s journey, from the bowels of New York City where he was born with few redeeming qualities and no moral compass, to his exploits in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Along the way, he tangles with Navajo Indian witch doctors and Indonesian shaman. He watches tens of thousands of Cambodian refugees stream across the border into Thailand fleeing the Pol Pot genocide in Cambodia; and runs for his life from a tsunami while vacationing at a pristine Thai beach. He travels all over Indonesia’s 17,000 islands and meets one of the world’s most ruthless and corrupt dictators. He watches Mt. Pinatubo erupt in the Philippines and lives through two attempted coup d’etat. He arrives in Laos five years after that benighted country was opened up to the modern world, and travels to tribal areas so remote that the people had never seen a honky like him before. Although Cashman is not particularly bright, lacks a scintilla of principle, and is an unmitigated coward, he stumbles and bungles his way to positions of esteem and distinction that he doesn’t deserve. Read Cashman’s exploits in Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the Cashman Chronicles below
Volume 1: The Formative Years: The story begins with Cashman’s escape from the insular confines of New York City to his sojourn on the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. From there he reaches his dream destination in Hawaii, then moves on to Thailand in the Post-Vietnam War period. Click on the chapters on the left
Volume 2: Cashman in the Tropics: following his exploits in Thailand, Larry Cashman, that unprincipled but lovable schemer and coward, explores the Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos, arrives in Laos as that benighted country opens up to the outside world after the Vietnam War, and bungles his way to a choice position at a distinguished university in the US. Click on the chapters to the right