Tum Teav

Tum Teav is a renowned Cambodian verse novel, considered a tragic love story. It is believed to be based on actual events from the 17th century and was passed down orally before being written in the 19th century by poet Santhor Mok.1

The novel is a prominent example of classical Khmer literature, which flourished between the 16th and mid-19th centuries and often reflected Indian cultural influences. Verse novels, like Tum Teav, typically draw from jataka tales or local folklore. Tum Teav remains a widely recognized story in Cambodia, taught in schools and adapted into various media, including films and comic strips.1