Anna and the King of Siam
by Margaret Landon | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0060954884 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0060954884 Global Overview for this book
2 journalers for this copy...
A novel based on the true and incredible story of Anna Leonowens, a proper Englishwoman employed in the 1860s by King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand) to help him communicate with foreign governments and be the tutor to his children and favored concubines. First published in 1944, this is the book that inspired the musical "The King and I."
"Weaving meticulously researched facts with beautifully imagined scenes, Margaret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten exotic land."
"Weaving meticulously researched facts with beautifully imagined scenes, Margaret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten exotic land."
Given to that charming BXer Antof9.
Caught over a wonderful dinner with watchcat. Thank you SO much for this lovely book! I was feeling pretty silly, not knowing that there even was a book to inspire The King and I, when you reassured me by admitting you didn't know there was one, either. Thanks :) And thanks too for bringing me TWO books -- one or the other would have been plenty!
Now. . . . where in the TBR does this one go?
Now. . . . where in the TBR does this one go?
Caught over a wonderful dinner with watchcat. Thank you SO much for this lovely book! I was feeling pretty silly, not knowing that there even was a book to inspire The King and I, when you reassured me by admitting you didn't know there was one, either. Thanks :) And thanks too for bringing me TWO books -- one or the other would have been plenty!
Now. . . . where in the TBR does this one go?
Now. . . . where in the TBR does this one go?
I learned long ago that when I'm taking books with me on a trip, I should mark them as such, in case they get unintentionally released before I mean to set them free!
This one is coming with me on a business trip to NYC.
This one is coming with me on a business trip to NYC.
So I did start this on that trip, but wasn't able to finish it until this week.
I really had no idea what to expect when I read this, knowing what I know about both the musical and the more recent movie with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat and how musicals really compare to books (I've read the book and seen on Broadway Wicked, after all).
It was really interesting to start with the preface by Margaret Landon and learn more about Anna Leonowens. It made me once again glad that I read prefaces, because it put me in the right state of mind to read this book.
One of the first things I noticed was that the writing was definitely an older style than I normally read ... which made me wonder: if I checked the copyright dates of my current reads, what would the average date be? hmmmm...
Anyway, I really -- I mean really -- enjoyed this book. I felt like as "historical fiction", it was one of the most accurate books I've ever read. As non-fiction, it read like a novel. As a biography, I learned so much about this amazing woman, and the incredibly difficult choices she made. Any way you look at it, this is a really good book.
There are a million things to write about here, but maybe I'll just leave it at how Anna's teaching and presence affected the future of a country, and how although her opinions may not have affected King Mongkut much (although you could argue that they did); they had a HUGE impact on Prince Chulalongkorn, who later became king. His desire to abolish slavery, and his first official proclamation which eliminated "prostration" were profound.
Thanks again for sharing this book with me, watchcat! I'm sending it to my sister-in-law, who enjoys history immensely. She actually has better taste in books than I do, and I hope she likes this.
Oh, and I've added both of the aforementioned movies to my Netflix queue and the very old version with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison, too.
I really had no idea what to expect when I read this, knowing what I know about both the musical and the more recent movie with Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat and how musicals really compare to books (I've read the book and seen on Broadway Wicked, after all).
It was really interesting to start with the preface by Margaret Landon and learn more about Anna Leonowens. It made me once again glad that I read prefaces, because it put me in the right state of mind to read this book.
One of the first things I noticed was that the writing was definitely an older style than I normally read ... which made me wonder: if I checked the copyright dates of my current reads, what would the average date be? hmmmm...
Anyway, I really -- I mean really -- enjoyed this book. I felt like as "historical fiction", it was one of the most accurate books I've ever read. As non-fiction, it read like a novel. As a biography, I learned so much about this amazing woman, and the incredibly difficult choices she made. Any way you look at it, this is a really good book.
There are a million things to write about here, but maybe I'll just leave it at how Anna's teaching and presence affected the future of a country, and how although her opinions may not have affected King Mongkut much (although you could argue that they did); they had a HUGE impact on Prince Chulalongkorn, who later became king. His desire to abolish slavery, and his first official proclamation which eliminated "prostration" were profound.
Thanks again for sharing this book with me, watchcat! I'm sending it to my sister-in-law, who enjoys history immensely. She actually has better taste in books than I do, and I hope she likes this.
Oh, and I've added both of the aforementioned movies to my Netflix queue and the very old version with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison, too.
