Sylvia, Queen of the Headhunters: An Outrageous Englishwoman and Her Lost Kingdon [Hardcover]

Philip Eade (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2007

Sylvia Brooke (1885-1971) was one of the more exotic figures of the twentieth century. Otherwise known as the Ranee of Sarawak, she was the consort (and by custom, slave) of Sir Vyner Brooke, the last White Rajah, whose family had ruled the jungle kingdom of Sarawak on Borneo for three generations. They had their own flag, revenue, postage stamps, and money, and each White Rajah had the power of life and death over his subjects - Malays, Chinese and headhunting Dyak tribesmen. The regime of the White Rajahs was long deemed superior to any in the British Empire, but by the 1930s there was a sharp decline in their power and prestige. At the centre of Sarawak's perceived decadence was Ranee Sylvia, author of eleven books, extravagantly-dressed socialite and incorrigible self-dramatist, described by the press as 'that most charming of despots', and by her own brother as 'a female Iago'. The Colonial Office branded her 'a dangerous woman, full of Machiavellian schemes to alter the succession, and spectacularly vulgar in her behaviour. Sylvia, Queen of the Headhunters chronicles the extraordinary life of the Ranee, with a supporting cast including Sylvia's father, a celebrated courtier in love with his own son; her whimsical and sexually incontinent husband, Rajah Vyner; the Rajah's unhinged, Rasputinesque private secretary; and the Rajah's nephew, whose folie de grandeur as the young heir gave way (after he was thwarted) to an interest in world peace and flying saucers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Eade adriotly handles both the tragic and the comic... certainly entertains." -- BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE

"Eade has uncovered a mine of marvellous material and handles it all with consummate wit and style... a dazzling debut... the perfect summer holiday read." -- HUGH MASSINGBERD, COUNTRY LIFE

"Philip Eade's fascinating biography recounts a hedonistic life lived in Sarawak, Europe and the Caribbean.... It's all highly entertaining." -- THE FIRST POST

"a thorough, fascinating and rather giddying book... most sensational" -- LYNNE TRUSS, THE SUNDAY TIMES

"biting biography... draws on family archives to tell the full, jaw-dropping story of a family more than usually mischevious and dysfunctional." -- THE TIMES

"eminently readable, with a detectives pertinacity at finding the clues to forgotten secrets and a raconteur's gift for sustaining his narrative interest." -- RICHARD DAVENPORT-HINES, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

"juicily entertaining... an exceptional life, one to which Eade does rich justice." -- MIRANDA SEYMOUR, MAIL ON SUNDAY

"traces this tangled tale with diligence, humour and an easy style... For the true story read Philip Eade." -- CHRISTOPHER ESHER, THE SPECTATOR

'Amazing and hilarious' -- CHRISTOPHER FOYLE, DAILY EXPRESS

'An enthralling study of an extraordinary woman. Philip Eade's book reads like a thriller... it is wonderfully written' -- JOANNA LUMLEY

About the Author

Philip Eade was born in Shropshire and read History at Bristol University. He was briefly a criminal barrister before turning to journalism. For several years he was on the staff of the Daily Telegraph as a writer and editor on its obituaries page. He lives in Lodnon and the Welsh Marches. This is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (June 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297847880
• ISBN-13: 978-0297847885
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,786,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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