Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on + 813 more book reviews
This is the book behind Rogers and Hammersteins The King and I. As in Kris Kristoffersons The Pilgrim: Chapter 33, it is partly truth and partly fiction. It is a vivid depiction of mid-1860s Siam, centered around Anna Leonowens, schoolmistress to the king, his children, and his wives. More than a biographical sketch, it delves into the intrigues of the court, foreign relations, and the ever-present meddling of European powers as they struggle for control of Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the book has fallen by the wayside, although it inspired three film versions, the original musical and six revivals of the play.
