Anna and the King

By Margaret Landon

Book Overview

"Are you the lady who is to teach the royal family?"
She inclined her head slightly. "I am."
"Have you friends in Bangkok?"
"I know no one in Bangkok at all."

When Anna arrives on a crowded dock in Siam in 1862, she is afraid her friends might have been right: A country as "backward" as Siam is no place for a proper young Englishwoman. And when she meets the king, who is unbearably headstrong and arrogant, she is quite positive she has made a huge mistake.

But then Anna begins her post as governess to the royal children (all sixty-seven of them ), and it's not long before they taught her to love the beauty and excitement of this strange new land. Suddenly she has more friends than she could ever hope for. Yet in the kingdom of Siam, there are rules Anna cannot accept. And as her relationship with the king grows, the conflicts between them grow too. If they are to overcome their differences, Anna and the King will have to meet somewhere between East and West....

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064408612
• ISBN13: 9780064408615
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.6" x 0.4" x 5.1"
• Age Range: 9 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 4 and higher

Customer Reviews

Skillful blend of fact and fiction in an enduring favorite

The history of Anna and the King of Siam is as romantic as the story itself. Author Margaret Landon found what may have been the only copy of Anna' book, The English Governess at the Siamese court while she was a missionary in Thailand. Later, she located the Romance of the Harem in a second-hand bookstore in Chicago. She paid a $1 for the book, which turned out to be a fine investment. Landon combined the two books and added fictional elements to create a skillfully written novel. The exotic setting and romantic story so impressed the wives of both Rogers and Hammerstein that they convinced their husbands to write a musical based on the book. And thus we get the musical The King and I, plus several movies, most recently one with Jodie Foster.Landon wrote other novels (Never Dies the Dream) based on her missionary experience but never achieved the same greatness as in Anna and the King of Siam. This is a well structured novel, with a lot of drama. The death scene of the Fa-ying is incredibly touching. Anna is believable; sometimes annoyingly persistent, other times selfless and very very brave. The actual writins of Anna Leonowens are also available. It's fun to read Landon's book and then the source material she used. You may agree with me that Landon's skill as a novelist took Anna's story and made it unforgettable.

An "almost true story"

Kids shouild have fun reading this and later on they can read the older version. Anna in later life di make up a false background buyt only because she could not succeed with the one sha had. She was poor but well educated as her writing shows. She was fluent in 13 languages, and is recorded by people to have been thanked by Chulalkongkorn for teaching him about the evils of slavery which he ended. Even her greatest detractor gives her credit. She was known in BAngkok as the White Angel as her grandchild did write. Her life after Siam is just as spectacular. The book may not tell the full truth (Anna needed to sell her books so exaggerated but she records she and the king as actually being good friends) but tellls an amazing tale.

Anna and the King of Siam; The Power of One Life

This is truly a tale of the power of one life. Anna Leonowens remarkable story reminds us that truth and compassion are the most powerful weapons against oppression, tyranny and fear. Anna's boldness and confidence in the face of King Mongkut's absolute power over life and death was rooted in her faith. This faith also inspired her to endless acts of selfless compassion towards the oppressed of Siam. Her relationship with Prince Chulalongkorn, the love and understanding they shared, is touching. It is significant that later in his life (after reigning over Siam for 29 years) he ascribed to Anna the credit for imparting to him the principles he needed to know in order to transform his country.

A story about courage, culture and relationships.

I was drawn to Anna and the King of Siam because of the Musical, The King and I. I not only enjoyed reading the book, but I also enjoyed comparing the two works based on the same woman's courage and dedication. Anna Leonowen's life and work in Siam is not only facinating, but an interesting aspect of history as well. The book shares and outlines this story in an interesting and exciting way. Anna had to have great courage and dedication to do what she did in her time. The difference in culture was alluring to her, as well as shocking at times. Throughout her time in Siam, she formed many friendships, and she had many who admired her. She gained a few enemies as well. Anna also had an intriging relationship with the King, which fluctuated on a regular basis. Anna was truly a remarkable woman, as was her story. I loved it!

A historically correct, heart warming tale of a brave woman.

I am 14 years old, and have recently read this wonderful book. It is sometimes slightly gruesome (i.e., Lady Tuptim) but more often good prevails, and Margaret Landon did an excellent job of combining Anna Leonowens books and many historical documents to create this book. I hope everyone who reads it, young or old, agrees and enjoys.