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Title: The English Governess at the Siamese Court by Anna Harriette Leonowens ISBN: 0-613-29233-2 Publisher: Bt Bound Pub. Date: March, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.67 (3 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Shocking...
Comment: Leonowens will never realize how she has condemned an entire nation with her lies. True, Thais do revere their kings and do not see them as being human. However, in the case of King Mongkut you have a truly remarkable man, do your homework before making judgements, and keep in mind that Leonowens was exposed to common Thai people most of the time but instead chose to write about the royalty to make $$$. I am truly saddened that King Mongkut a highly tolerant and far sighted ruler must stand in the shadow of lies. I challenge you to research western sources regarding this man. I agree that Thailand should not ban these films or books because they reveal how the West (whom they have always admired) regards them in the 19th century and even today. The fact that no modern scholar has come forth to introduce King Mongkut to the world has burdened Thais to rightfully defend themselves and in doing so make Leonowen's account seem hilariously "unbiased".
Rating: 4
Summary: Colonial Bias
Comment: Probably one of the strangest things about my reading of The English Governess at the Siamese Court, was the location in which I found the book. I was rummaging through the books at the Asia Book Store on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, looking for mindless mysteries to pass the time between tailor fittings. I was astonished to find a copy in Bangkok, knowing the Thai feelings toward Anna Leonowens. All I can say about the book is, now I have a complete understanding of why they would feel that way about her. Mrs. Leonowens view is so ethnocentric as to be bordering blatant racism. She takes no time to understand the culture around her, and fills her writings with the basest stereotypes of Asian culture found so prevalently in Victorian Imperial culture. Even when she does give credit to the Thai people for the beauty of their culture, it is done with an air of surprise, that these "primitives" could develop something of beauty.
BUT, this should not stop anyone from reading the book (thus my rating of four stars). The book should be read if only to gauge the growth that has been achieved in the last one hundred and thirty years. The book is an interesting look back at the accepted viewpoint of the nineteenth century. Mrs. Leonowens is a perfect mirror of the superior attitude of the Anglo-Saxon in his drive to finally control 3/4 of the earth. All in all, this book is a very interesting trip into the past.
Rating: 3
Summary: The British Women, Anna
Comment: This is one of a few books which are written by Anna Leonowens herself as a English teacher in Siam. For those of you who wants to know more about Anna herself and her dairy, should read this book. It describes the Siamese court from a historical point of view, bring you back to 19th century.
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Title: Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon ISBN: 0060954884 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 December, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Romance of the Harem (Victorian Literature and Culture Series) by Susan Morgan, Anna Harriette Leonowens ISBN: 0813913284 Publisher: University of Virginia Press Pub. Date: August, 1991 List Price(USD): $18.50 |
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Title: Anna Leonowens: A Life Beyond "the King and I" by Leslie Smith Dow ISBN: 0919001696 Publisher: Pottersfield Pr Pub. Date: January, 1998 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title:Anna and the King ASIN: B00003CWLF Publisher: Twentieth Century Fox Home Video Pub. Date: 04 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $13.48 |
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Title:Anna & The King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ASIN: B00003G1O4 Publisher: La Face Pub. Date: 21 December, 1999 List Price(USD): $17.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $14.99 |
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