White Rajah: A Biography of Sir James Brooke [Hardcover]

Nigel Barley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Sir James Brooke's curious career began in 1841, when he was caught up in a war in Brunei. He was an opportunist who, with the Sultan's backing, made war on the Dayaks tribespeople and as a result found himself ruling over Sarawak—a kingdom the size of England. How he achieved it is a romantic, sometimes horrifying story. This historical biography recalls the best and the worst of the British Imperial character.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Fascinating reading' LITERARY REVIEW 'As a brief, even-handed and witty introduction to this extraordinary man [WHITE RAJAH] is hard to beat' BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE 'WHITE RAJAH is a unique biography of one of the most fascinating and influential men of the British Empire' GEOGRAPHICAL

About the Author

Nigel Barley is the author of six books, including THE INNOCENT ANTHROPOLOGIST and DANCING ON THE GRAVE. He is the curator of London's Museum of Mankind.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316859206
• ISBN-13: 978-0316859202
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,749,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well written retelling of a legendary story., August 24, 2004

By 

Interloper (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White Rajah: A Biography of Sir James Brooke (Paperback)

The book tells the life story of Sir James Brooke, the British-born rajah of the kingdom of Sarawak in Northern Borneo (today part of Malaysia). Brooke's life has been told many times and this retelling does not shed much new light to it, except for the unabashed recognition of the fact that, by all indications, Brooke was homosexual (probably not latent), and especially attracted to handsome young men. Otherwise, it's an easy-to-read, well written retelling of a story which, at a closer look, actually proves a lot less interesting and adventureous than you'd think if you only know the bare skeleton of it.

4.0 out of 5 stars A really Good Romp, April 13, 2011

By 

Tommy D "Tom" (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White Rajah: A Biography of Sir James Brooke (Paperback)

I have always found the life of James Brooke to be totally fascinating, but this is the first biography of his I have read. I must say that Nigel Barley has made a cracking go at capturing his fabrilliant life and has dealt with the question of sexuality in a completely objective way. Rajah Brooke and his family had sort of air brushed his pretty obvious homesexuality out of the correspondence etc that he left behind. What remains however, clearly indicates a man who whilst never shunning women, does have a predeliction for the company of young, good looking men/boys.

There are some great drawings too which add more flavour and the prose does flow melifuously. I lent this to a friend who found it unput downable if that is a word and i did get through it at a gallop which is always a good sign. The original extracts and quotes are extensive and illuminating, evidencing some careful research.

He was also completly eccentric, dashing and charming with the sort of zeal for foreign adventure that the Victorians revelled in. I would have loved to have met him and Nigel Barley has managed to convey the successes and calamaties with both humour and a genuine warmth for the subject, I shall definitely read more of his work.