Anna and the King of Siam

It's an interesting read. Definitely understand why the King of Thailand has banned this book and everything connected to it.

Was glad to see that this has been reissued in a very nice format. All I had was an ancient beat up paperback.

For a small bit of history of Siam, this is a good book. I don't know much about the facts, having read the preface, but for all the other information that may be true, it is truly a wonderful book.Anna loved her husband dearly and never remarried, but I believe just a tiny bit of the movie that she and the King developed a closer bond of friendship than most friends of today. The love and devotion she had with her pupils was quite obvious, as well as the animosity between herself and the horrid translator.The many relationships with the women of the harem were complex, at the same time, simple. Lady Thiang was a rare soul, able to love so devoutly, yet recognise the human, or perhaps not so quite human at times, the failings of her husband. To remain devoted to someone like that, with his many violent outbursts of anger and not fear him totally, is very uncommon.Anna's influence on Prince Chulalongkorn just have made her proud of her decision to stay when times were the most difficult. I also believe she must have felt some relief, that her many years there has made such an impression on the young boy.All in all, this is one book I'm glad I bought. I read it when I was much younger, cried in spots, got angry in others, and signed with relief when situations resolved successfully. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history, a few love stories, much conflict, and exciting, tense moments. Anna and the King of Siam will remain a favourite of mine. I'm truly glad it's on my Fire, so I can re-read it whenever I feel the need to travel without leaving my own home.

Novelized account of Anna Leonowens, tutor to King Rama V (Chulalongkorn.) Landon fictionalized the diaries of Leonowens (The English Governess at the Siamese Court .) Leonowens herself portrayed the events with a lot of editing or outright deception, according to many. The account Landon gives here may stray far from reality, but as a novel it worked so exceptionally well that it became beloved (outside of Thailand where is it not in favor, portraying the king in a less-than-perfect light in a country that has deep reverence bordering on worship of their royals.)Landon was a skilled writer, but none of her other books reached the success of "Anna." A fictionalized account of her own missionary experience in Asia (Never Dies the Dream) has conflict and well-drawn characters but falls flat compared to the rich material from Leononwens' own eventful life. Landon did good research on Leonowens and did impart some of the character of the self-made (and self-styled) adventurer into the novel. The musical did not fully elucidate the book's drama, to Landon's satisfaction and she felt it was cheapened by the Rogers and Hammerstein version--little of Mongkut's complexity comes through but still--it's loved. I've read many versions of Leonowens' story, some purchased in Thailand and none comes close to the Landon novel, though it may be lacking in truth in spots. The theme of slavery is well handled and the scene of the brass door and the shackled slave and her son is one you can't forget. Nor the execution of Tuptim and her monk lover.

I had always hoped to one day read the book upon which the Musical, "The King & I" was originally based. I am delighted to share that my wish has been granted and I have completed this lengthy, detailed missive, based on the journals of Anna Leonowens herself. Since many of.the characters of the musical came from this book, you will enjoy knowing that much of the story will be familiar to you. Alas, the king is no Yul Brynner in the real story, but a vain and brutally demanding regent. But Anna is true, in every respect, and her influence on the young Prince Chulalonghorn leads to great changes in Siamese cultural practice. Do find the time to read this book. You will learn much history of the area in the process, and be very satisfied by the story's end. A+ Bravo!

A really fascinating story. A woman who travels thousands of miles to a third world country with a youth son to teach in the harem of a tyrant. It sounds made up. And then a musical is made. I’m not sure if the author should be flattered or feel trivialized. It is with reading and left me wondering about the rest of Siam’s history from then to the modern day. I spent a lot of time googling.

This is of course a classic. I had seen the movie but never read the book. They are not the same. There are many interesting descriptions of the customs of Siam, however it was too much. Too long and at times Seemed to be simply a series of unrelated events, instead of a story.

Wonderful true story of Anna Leonowens, the British widow who became the teacher of the Princes and Princesses of the Kingdom of Siam. Actual excerpts from letters written by Anna are included. Her teaching of the concepts of freedom and democracy were accredited by Prince Chulalongkorn after he succeeded to the throne for the transformation of Siam into the Free country (Thai) that it became. The abolishment of Slavery began with his accession to the Throne in 1872 and was completed in 1905. Excellent book.

Saw both the movies off course & often wondered about the true life story behind the movies! Good story, well written bought the characters to life, I would suggest you read this book to get the picture!!

Excellent novel! I'm so impressed by Anna Leonowens, a widow with 2 children, and spent 5 years in Siam—present-day Thailand— in the mid-1800s teaching royal children and standing up to a king who held to the old ways. This woman believed in human dignity, equality, and honesty and went out of her way to help countless people, succeeding and failing. Her story in this novel left me frequently cringing in terror for that brave woman, wondering how she managed to keep her spirits up in a land riddled with slavery, prisoners relegated to filthy prison on a whim, subservience in general towards rulers and the elite, and a view of women of all stations that left them only the choice of quiet obedience in fear of their life and the lives of their children. What a story! But I also am also in awe because I so appreciate how much work Margaret Landon obviously did over 4 years 8 or so decades after Anna's story in writing this novel, using Leonowens' books, letters, meeting the descendants of people who knew Anna or were related to her or some of the people in her story, researching the history of the country, finding letters of King Mongkut... This is, of course, the book on which the film The King And I is based, not nearly as ferocious a story as the novel. I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a strong and brave woman who plunged into an alien culture, alone, with her son, and took on a task that went above and beyond her 'job'. A refreshing look at how the wings of a butterfly can, indeed, make a change somewhere else on the planet.

Enjoyed this story and felt it gave the flavour of Siam in Victorian times.Although the political intrigues and plots were given in detail, I would have liked more about the personal Anna.Her strong morality is evident in abundance, but do we get the real Anna?

I'm glad to have read this wonderful book. It has had me fighting back tears, wide-eyed in awe, and laughing out loud in equal measure. Some of the descriptions are rather lengthy, but necessary to give scale and perspective to the claustrophobic feel of life cloistered within the palace confines where the narrative takes place.I'm not surprised that the Siamese authorities of the day, did all in their power to try to suppress publication of Anna's own memoirs as governess to the royal children, and wives. Readers will make up their own mind about the King. I think he was a terrible cruel despot, even by the standards of his time.The descriptions of regional and global political manoeuvres surrounding the characters are quite an eye opener too. The superpowers of the day were squabbling and struggling to expand their influence in the region, which makes for an interesting backdrop to the story of Anna and the King. Definitely a must-read.

After seeing the live theatre production of "The King and I", I wanted more information regarding the real story that the movie and theatre production was based on. I got the book "Anna and the King of Siam", which was great, and then I got this book, which added further information. I really enjoyed the book...reading about a woman who was truly ahead of her time...and a culture that long disappeared. A great read!