Anna and the King of Siam [Paperback]

Margaret Landon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 1999

Anna Leonowens, a proper Englishwoman, was an unlikley candidate to change the course of Siamese (Thai) history. A young widow and mother, her services were engaged in the 1860's by King Mongkut of Siam to help him communicate with foreign governments and be the tutor to his children and favored concubines. Stepping off the steamer from London, Anna found herself in an exotic land she could have only dreamed of lush landscape of mystic faiths and curious people, and king's palace bustling with royal pageantry, ancient custom, and harems. One of her pupils, the young prince Chulalongkorn, was particularly influenced by Leonowens and her Western ideals. He learned about Abraham Lincoln and the tenets of democracy from her, and years later he would become Siam's most progressive king. He guided the country's transformation from a feudal state to a modern society, abolshing slavery and making many other radical reforms.

Weaving meticulously researched facts with beautifully imagined scenes, Margret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten extotic land. Written more than fifty years ago, and translated into dozens of languages, Anna and the King of Siam (the inspiration for the magical play and film The King and I)continues to delight and enchant readers around the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An enchanting book. The author wears her scholarship with grace, and the amazing story she has to tell is recounted with humor and understanding. And what a story it is!" -- Atlantic Monthly

"An invitig escape into an unfamiliar, exotic past. Ms. Landon's is one calculated to transport us instantly." -- -- New York Times

"An invitig escape into an unfamiliar, exotic past. Ms. Landon's is one calculated to transport us instantly." -- New York Times

From the Publisher

12 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; 1St Edition edition (November 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060954884
• ISBN-13: 978-0060954888
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > History > Asia > Thailand
  • #88 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Educators

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story about courage, culture and relationships., October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Anna and the King of Siam (Hardcover)

I was drawn to Anna and the King of Siam because of the Musical, The King and I. I not only enjoyed reading the book, but I also enjoyed comparing the two works based on the same woman's courage and dedication. Anna Leonowen's life and work in Siam is not only facinating, but an interesting aspect of history as well. The book shares and outlines this story in an interesting and exciting way. Anna had to have great courage and dedication to do what she did in her time. The difference in culture was alluring to her, as well as shocking at times. Throughout her time in Siam, she formed many friendships, and she had many who admired her. She gained a few enemies as well. Anna also had an intriging relationship with the King, which fluctuated on a regular basis. Anna was truly a remarkable woman, as was her story. I loved it!

63 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars amusing fantasy but hardly harmless, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Anna and the King of Siam (Hardcover)

For sheer readibility, it's worth 5 stars. But for its history and biography, I would rate it less than zero. So as a compromise, I'd give it 3 stars. The Siam king Anna Leonowens portrays (Landon's 1944 best-seller is based on Leonowens' original account) looks nothing like the real king Mongkut whom historians study and the Thais revere. The real Mongkut is the closest thing to a philospher-king that modern Asia has produced and his political reform essentially created modern Thailand. He was an accomplished linguist and spoke several European languages including English. He was well-versed in western science and history. From his success in preserving his country's independence in the age of western imperialism by playing off colonial powers against each other, it seems he knew as much about the balance of power as, say Metternich and Palmerston. He laid the basis for the modernisation reform and foreign policy initiatives long before Leonowens set foot in Siam. So it's hard to see how she could possibly play any significant role in these areas as she had claimed. Little wonder that the Thais are upset about Hollywood's latest attempt to remake the King and I starring Jodie Foster and Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun-fat. How the sheer fantasies that made up Leonowens' book - and the historical illiteracy and cultural insensitivity of Landon's - came about warrant a serious interdisciplinary study in 1) psychology of self-delusion; 2) history of Victorian colonial racism; 3) western orientialism that portrays an exotic East of sensuality, barbarity and mystery. Would I let my children read thse books? Yes, of course, 'cause they are entertaining. But I would advise them to read some real history to debunk the egomania and delusion of Leonowens.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Skillful blend of fact and fiction in an enduring favorite, September 19, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anna and the King of Siam (Paperback)

The history of Anna and the King of Siam is as romantic as the story itself. Author Margaret Landon found what may have been the only copy of Anna' book, The English Governess at the Siamese court while she was a missionary in Thailand. Later, she located the Romance of the Harem in a second-hand bookstore in Chicago. She paid a $1 for the book, which turned out to be a fine investment. Landon combined the two books and added fictional elements to create a skillfully written novel.

The exotic setting and romantic story so impressed the wives of both Rogers and Hammerstein that they convinced their husbands to write a musical based on the book. And thus we get the musical The King and I, plus several movies, most recently one with Jodie Foster.

Landon wrote other novels (Never Dies the Dream) based on her missionary experience but never achieved the same greatness as in Anna and the King of Siam. This is a well structured novel, with a lot of drama. The death scene of the Fa-ying is incredibly touching. Anna is believable; sometimes annoyingly persistent, other times selfless and very very brave.

The actual writins of Anna Leonowens are also available. It's fun to read Landon's book and then the source material she used. You may agree with me that Landon's skill as a novelist took Anna's story and made it unforgettable.