Customer Reviews

White Rajah: A Biography of Sir James Brooke

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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.

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.