นิยายรักในราชสำนักฝ่ายใน

by Anna Harriette Leonowens, อบ ไชยวสุ (Translator)

จากปก:

นี่คือที่มาของละคร The King and I และภาพยนตร์ Anna and the King

Genres: History, Nonfiction

570 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1873

About the author

Anna Leonowens (26 November 1831–19 January 1915) was a British travel writer, educator and social activist, known for working in Siam from 1862–1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She is also known for co-founding the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Leonowens's experiences in Siam were fictionalised in Margaret Landon's 1944 bestselling novel Anna and the King of Siam and in various films and television miniseries based on the book, most notably Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1951 hit musical The King and I.

Reviews

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for personal historical research (swiftly). I found this work of 'some' interest and its contents helpful, but not as much as I had hoped for - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, this work is also an OK resource for the memoir researcher and enthusiast.
--Excerpts:
-"Polygamy—or, properly speaking, concubinage—and slavery are the curses of the country. But one wife is allowed by law; the king only may have two, a right and a left hand wife, as these dual queens are called, whose offspring alone are legitimate. The number of concubines is limited only by the means of the man. As the king is the source of all wealth and influence, dependent kings, princes, and nobles, and all who would seek the royal favor, vie with each other in bringing their most beautiful and accomplished daughters to the royal harem... Every harem is a little world in itself, composed entirely of women,—some who rule, others who obey, and those who serve."

-"Around these desolate hills and valleys cluster a variety of tribes and races, of diverse tongues and customs, creeds and religions,—worshippers of Mohammed and of the Buddha, followers of Brahma and of Indra, of Vishnu and Siva, of the many-breasted and teeming Dâvee, and the triple-headed and triple-bodied Dhupyâ. Over all these different peoples the Rajpoot, or warrior caste, has held for centuries an undisputed sway. Among all these tribes the "Meriâh" sacrifice prevails, as the only means of propitiating the earth-goddess."

-"There existed in Siam under the late king a mixed system of slavery... The process is exactly like tattooing. The name of the chief is pricked into the skin with a long slender steel having a lancet-shaped point, just deep enough to draw a little blood; after which the bile of peacock mixed with Chinese ink is rubbed over the scarification.
This leaves an indelible mark."

- THE SIAMESE SYSTEM OF SLAVERY-
"Under the late king, his Majesty Somdetch P'hra Paramendr Maha Mongkut, there existed in Siam a mixed system of slavery, in part resembling the old system of English feudal service, in part the former serfdom of Russia, and again in part the peonage of Mexico.
Three fourths of the population of Siam are in this condition of modified slavery, branded with the mark of their owners, or held by their creditors in a form of qualified servitude to work out a debt. The royal family, princes, and chief rulers and magistrates of the country, are the only exceptions to this rule. But even they are obliged to serve the king in times of war, or to provide a fitting substitute."

"TO EVERY BIRD ITS OWN NEST IS CHARMING."

[Laraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this is a harder book to read. It’s written around 1860 so it’s old English like. It will make one use their brain cells. Second, it’s all short stories in a chapter about particular women in the kings court. The writing is excellent compared to what we read today. It’s all about hierarchy in life, rules and reprimands and laws. If you want to understand Siam more during the 19th century it’s a great true story to think about.

[Galicius · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the “Tuptim and Balat” selection from “The Romance of the Harem” and am puzzled by the horrors described how much of it is actual history. Perhaps the word “romance” had a different meaning in nineteenth Century Siam.

[Hazeanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book to be read first among all other more well known of Anna Leonowen's books. I'm fully satisfied with my choice as this books offered glimpses of the life inside the sanctuary of royal harem off limit to opposite sex and commoners where the King of Siam held semi divine status.

Here, we learned the inside life of royalty and princes of the royal court together with its servants from lady in waiting amazon bodyguard to slaves.

One of the story affected me most was when Leonowen accidentally found a female moslem slave been tied semi naked to a pole without roof for years. Reason? For running away to get married to moslem merchant after her offer to purchase her freedom being refused.

Leonowen wrote to King Mongkut
regarding this which later being brought to harem court trial in Queen Mother vs Royal Teacher.
She procured the slave freedom after judge rule that Queen Mother must accepted compensation offered by slave in exchange for freedom. That proved the justice of wise King Mongkut and royal judge.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A follow up to Anna and the King of Siam story. Only ok. An interesting snapshot of the time (1860's) but not a book for everyone.