The bestselling book that inspired the musical play and film The King
and I
"Enchanting. . . . The author wears her scholarship with grace, and
the amazing story she has to tell is recounted with humor and
understanding. And what a story it is!" --Atlantic Monthly
Anna Leonowens, a proper Englishwoman, was an unlikely candidate to
change the course of Siamese (Thai) history. A young widow and mother,
her services were engaged in the 1860's by King Mongkut of Siam to help
him communicate with foreign governments and be the tutor to his
children and favored concubines.
Stepping off the steamer from London, Anna found herself in an exotic
land she could have only dreamed of: a lush landscape of mystic faiths
and curious people, and a king's palace bustling with royal pageantry,
ancient custom, and harems. One of her pupils, the young prince
Chulalongkorn, was particularly influenced by Leonowens and her Western
ideals. He learned about Abraham Lincoln and the tenets of democracy
from her, and years later he would become Siam's most progressive king.
He guided the country's transformation from a feudal state to a modern
society, abolishing slavery and making many other radical reforms.
Weaving meticulously researched facts with richly imagined scenes,
Margret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a
forgotten exotic land. Originally published in 1944, and translated into
dozens of languages, Anna and the King of Siam continues to delight
and enchant readers around the world.
