The White Rajah

John Williamson #1

by Tom Williams

Invalided out of the East India Company's army, James Brooke looks for adventure in the South China Seas. When the Sultan of Borneo asks him to help suppress a rebellion, Brooke joins the war to support the Sultan and improve his chances of trading successfully in the area. Instead, he finds himself rewarded with his own country, Sarawak. Determined to be an enlightened ruler who brings peace and prosperity to his people, James settles with his lover, John Williamson, in their new Eden. But piracy, racial conflict, and court plotting conspire to destroy all he has achieved. Driven from his home and a fugitive in the land he ruled, James is forced to take extreme measures to drive out his enemies. The White Rajah is the story of a man, fighting for his life, who must choose between his beliefs and the chance of victory. Based on a true story, Brooke's battle is a tale of adventure set against the background of a jungle world of extraordinary beauty and terrible savagery. Told through the eyes of the man who loves him and shares his dream, this is a tale of love and loss from a 19th century world that still speaks to us today.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, 19th Century, Fiction, M M Romance, LGBT

233 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2010

About the author

Tom Williams used to write books for business. Now he writes novels set in the 19th century that are generally described as fiction but which are often more honest than the business books. (He writes contemporary fantasy as well, but that's a dark part of his life, so you'll have to explore that on your own - ideally with a friend and a protective amulet.)

His stories about James Burke (based on a real person) are exciting tales of high adventure and low cunning set around the Napoleonic Wars. The stories have given him the excuse to travel to Argentina, Egypt, and Spain and call it research.

Tom lives in London. His main interest is avoiding doing any honest work and this leaves him with time to ski, skate and dance tango, all of which (before covid) he thought he did quite well. In between he reads old books and spends far too much time looking at ancient weaponry.

Reviews

[Sharon Robards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was difficult to review as I know the author from an online writing forum from a few years back and received such a wonderful and unsolicited review off him for one of my books that I didn’t want this review to be seen as a tit for tat and all of that. I ummed and arred about 4 or 5 stars and if I should leave a review.

It isn’t one of my favourite books of all time, no more than any other memoir type book I have read to do with sailors or explorer. I'm more of a passion, angst type of reader, but I couldn’t fault the way the story was managed taking into account the intention of the author nor the writing. This is a fictional memoir set in 1830s. While reading, I kept thinking of the memoir of John Nicols – The Life and Adventures of John Nicols, Mariner and other memoirs by explorers. They are usually dry, but all have a sense of time and place and often character, with moments here and there where they hint of things such as their loves, almost vaguely as if they fear putting down their emotions for the world to one day read. This was captured extremely well in The White Rajah.

I knew nothing of this period and found The White Rajah impressive for the scope of the story, its vivid descriptions and characterisation, especially of the narrator, John Williamson, and James Brooke. Part way through reading, I became impatient with wanting to know how true the story was and contacted the author to find out how much the story was fiction because it felt authentic and just as a memoir for that period in time from a sailor often sounds. If I had of read on, I would have found the author’s note :)

I am a little voyeuristic and kept waiting for the scenes between John Williamson and James Brooke to become more intense… more emotional, more heated. It never happened. That is why I ummed and arred about stars. If you are wanting to see a romance between the two main characters, it almost pasts as if it never happened. Although you can see it there, it is almost hidden, implied mostly, shown subtlety with a kiss, a hug, a look, the knowledge you know what is happening because they share a bed, a gentle touch, almost a tinge of regret…not for the relationship that formed, but the impossibility of it. It’s brushed over with only the briefest of an insight scattered throughout.

I couldn’t help feel John Williamson found it all a little painful, found it easier to brush over the finer points of their relationship, and on that level, the relationship part of the story works. A man of his time, would hardly announce, although he does make it clear in this, his considered unholy sexual preferences boldly in a memoir.

I feel that if the author had delved greatly into the finer details of John Williamson’s relationship with James Brooke in the memoir format of the time and pondered the relationship in a more graphic manner, author’s licence and all that, the sense of authenticity the story currently has would have been lost.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Williams writes quite well when it comes to action scenes or passages. His skill at doing so saves this novel, The White Rajah. For the last quarter of the book is given over to a dramatic escape and then return of James Brooke, the first white rajah of Sarawak, to his capital in order to oust and then destroy his pirate enemies. The first three-quarters is not structured so successfully. It tells this historically-based story from the perspective of John Williamson, an aide, interpreter, confident, and eventual lover of Rajah Brooke. That part is choppy and lacks atmosphere and color. At times it reads like hard-boiled fiction, something discordant with this type of book, historical/nautical fiction set in the Far East and South Seas. By the lack of color I mean that to be literally, for his descriptions of Borneo, Singapore, and the ships at sea are so devoid of descriptive adjectives of coloring that they seem presented in black and white. I realize critics caution against adjectival-laden purple prose. But these are exotic locales for most of Williams' readers and need the detail. If Joseph Conrad can do it, so can Tom Williams.

All this changes once the book moves to Brooke and Williamson's escape from the pirate attack on Kuching. At once, the writing becomes more fluid and elevated, even at the level of the sentence, it becomes more complex and motion-filled. And, yes, color emerges in the descriptions of the uniforms, the muddy sand banks of the rivers, and the foliage.

That leaves just one issue: the love story between Brooke and Williamson. Williams has elected to develop his two main characters through this angle, although apparently the historical evidence is either scanty or debatable. No matter. It is an intriguing alternative to the male-female relationships that normally dominate this genre. The problem is that Williams seems simultaneously to be both squeamish and awkwardly intrusive about it. Either treat it with discreet ambiguity or utterly naturally. The other aspect of this relationship is that it leaves Rajah Brooke as something of a remote and undeveloped character to my eyes. John Williamson seems to engage in quite a deal of psychologizing that only makes Brooke stiff and, at times, cartoonish.

Oh, and I would have liked to see more detail and, yes, color used in describing the Dayaks. They are such an interesting people in their own right. Often, in this work, they seem nothing but gray spear-throwers living in longhouses. There is more there to work with. Williams, for example, does begin to develop the Chinese traders a bit and does give solid pictures of the Malay ruling elite.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was recived free from Goodreads first read.

A great 'little' read. A slim book that takes you the life of James Brooke through the eyes of his lover and confidante John Williamson.
The book concentrates on the trials and tribulations of an englishman abroad in a foreign country as its ruler. How the english community fit into the native life how one man, James Brooke tries to bring benefit to the locals against racial differences, piracy and the intricities of court intrigue.
The relationship between the storyteller and the main character is well written making it a side event to the main event which means the reader is immersered in the life the charcters lead and the battles both good and bad they undertake rather than being sidetracked by the relationship.

It is written with a delicate touch, very cleverly taking the reader to the time and place, the charcters, mainly based on real people, are beliveable, likeable and hateable with all the human frailities and charcteristics that draw the reader in.
Very well written and easy to read for anyone interested in that period of history or for someone who just picks the book up to read as it requires no prior knowledge to enjoy the book.
Would recommend as a good read for one and all.

[Erastes · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s unfortunate that this book has the same title as that of one on the same subject by a very well known author, Nicholas Monsarrat–Brooke was indeed known as the first “white rajah” though, but perhaps a different title might have been prudent.

The book is fictionally written by John Williamson, who was in fact a real person but who has been fictionalised for this book. The writing is done deliberately in a way to convince us that it’s a memoire written at and of the time, which manages to do that quite well, and that’s partly to blame for failing to win me over, too.

My first impression of the first twenty or so pages though were more that it was recounting what happened, rather than allowing us to know the characters. I would have like to have known about the narrator a little more, because in order to care what happens to a character you have to care about them. He’s rather surprisingly erudite for a sailor before the mast, and he has such knowledge of places and people as to come across as an omniecent narrator. I don’t mind passages such as this:

“I tell you again, sir,” he was saying, “we can make no decent profit from such limited commissions as these. We must seek the sort of work we might find from Jardine Matheson who—”

Mr Brooke had been lounging back in his chair affecting a casual air that failed entirely to mask his irritation. At the name of Jardine Matheson, one of the largest and most respected firms amongst the Singapore merchants

But I’d prefer some connection with his knowledge, show us why he knows this about Matheson, rather than simply telling us.This telling rather than showing continues much of the way through the book, for example where we are told that Brooke is charismatic–but we’ve not actually had any personal insight into him through John’s eyes. No conversations, no action–so the fact he’s charismatic rather leaves me thinking. “Oh yeah? Says you.” He also says that seeing Brooke again after a gap of five years rekindled feelings that he thought he had forgotten. However, the author seems to have forgotten that he never mentioned any feelings in the first place, and these “feelings” aren’t mentioned again for a hundred pages.

The whole beginning section was rather pointless, I felt, particularly as it didn’t give us any depth into either character other than “Mr Brooke told me years later that…” and it could have been excised entirely without losing much of the narrative. The only thing is served was to have John meet Brooke, and that could easily have been achieved by a sentence later on when they meet again. On page 23 there is this frankly kick-ass sentence:

In June of 1839, almost five years after I first arrived at Singapore in the Findlay, James Brooke came back into my life.

This would have been a great first line – and it would have been a marvellous place to start the story, because this is where the story actually begins.

Sadly the book continues with swathes of telling not showing. Scenes that could have been interesting were cut short with a modicum of conversation and finished off by telling us what happened after the brief exchange. It’s almost like the author is scared of conversations. I know that sometimes an author will think that they want to cut forward to more plot but the readers can get more from the characters with a conversation than they can from pages of exposition.

Part of the omniescent feel is probably based on the fact that it’s told in a memoire style. I do like memoires, but I think I’d have preferred this just to be a narration of events rather than an endless jumping back and forth. The narrator actually says:

I write now with an understanding I did not have then.

And that’s rather the problem, because we aren’t quite sure what we are reading, a historical record with all the facts in place, or the observations of a rather gauche ignorant sailor who seems to know everything. He tells us things that he couldn’t possibly have known at the time, such as Brooke’s motivations, things he’s gleaned from a more intimate knowledge of Brooke in the future of this narration, and this for me was quite off-putting.

I know next to nothing about ships and nautical matters, but I have to say that the seafaring experience of John seems rather overly idyllic. Other than one storm in the unnecessary first section he doesn’t have any problems with weather or with unruly bosses, and indeed seems to spend much of his time loafing around, hanging around the deck, or drinking and having shore leave – despite the ship being magically ship-shape, bristol fashion and gleaming. In fact, and it pains me to say it, because I haven’t encountered one of these for a long time, John is a bit of a Mary Sue, or more correctly a Gary Stu, because everything he does, he does effortlessly: learns Malay, negotiates treaties and the Rajah-ship (despite being unable to read or write) has an uncanny insight into the country and its customs, despite not having been there before, is a better sailor than anyone else, meets up with people who can give him exactly the information he needs, etc etc.

Here is a good example of many of the problems I found here:

I met with fewer Malays in the course of my business in the markets, for they generally felt themselves superior to such commercial activity. Those I did have dealings with were generally more forthcoming about the realities of the political situation. They soon became used to my presence, and the various small gifts I would take whenever I visited them helped form friendships with them.

Firstly, how does he know that they felt superior? Who was he meeting, how did they get used to his presence? Why did he go and meet them, if all he was doing was shopping in the market, how did he get invited to meet them? Who were they? All these questions and more formed in my head, because the author is simply using John as an all-too-convenient narration tool; someone who needs to be everywhere and to know everything which is unbelievable and doesn’t make us care about him as a person. In fact he was more like the kind of camera you get in a video game which is constantly standing behind your main character, than a character in his own right. Eventually he just becomes an extension of Brooke’s orbit and isn’t bothering to do any common sailoring, but just standing beside Brooke the whole time so he can tell us in excruitiang detail what’s going on. I can’t help but think this would have been a better book from Brooke’s POV, as John even goes so far as to interject Brooke’s feelings from time to time which he could not possibly have known.

Even the fighting scenes are done in this dry narration style, instead of spicing up the narrative.

When we finally do get the homosexual relationship, we are told that Brooke kisses John – and it’s described as the “most natural thing in the world” which made me laugh out loud because there had been absolutely no relationship building or even any sign of physical attraction for the 100 pages that came before it. John does realise that he loves Brooke a few pages earlier, but you get no sense that he feels it in a homosexual manner, as there was no shock of how unnatural that would be to him. He does add a bit about sin after the kiss, but it truly feels pasted on.

However, one does get used to this dry narration and as a fictional account of historical matters it’s not that bad, it’s just not terribly interesting, and I have to say that I had to force myself to read it, because it certainly didn’t grab me by the throat, which is a shame, because the experiences related had the opportunity to be exciting, rather than “we did this, then we did this” and the over descriptive passages where we are shown all the research the author did smack very much of Dan Brownism.

There were a few anachronisms here and there–hansom cabs making too earlyan appearance being one of the in your face ones, but nothing too egregious.

If you like a dry historical account, then you’ll enjoy this, and Brooke was certainly a fascinating man, so I was pleased to know so much about a man I had not heard of before, but it was too dry and factual for me, and I would have preferred a lot more action and a little more conversation.

[Frank Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

To anyone unfamiliar with the history of Sarawak it will come as a surprise to discover that, unlike much of the rest of the British Empire, it was ruled for 100 years, not by a Governor General or Viceroy acting on behalf of the British crown, but by a series of members of the Brooke family.
James Brooke resigned his commission in the private army of the East India Company to become a privateer, trading around the islands of the South China Sea. In 1839 he was invited by the Sultan of Borneo to help put down a rebellion in what was then a province of Borneo. With that achieved, Brooke was then given the role of ruler of the province, thus becoming the White Rajah of the title of Tom Williams's latest book.
The overthrow of the rebels, the development of an economy based around the trade in antimony, a second rebellion from which Brooke escaped to Singapore, his return and the defeat of the pirates responsible for the rebellion and the plundering of indigenous tribal villages, together form the meat of this fascinating account.
It is told in first person by Brooke's fictional companion and aide. In his end note Williams explains which parts of the story are true and which fiction. He does not say whether or not Brooke's homosexuality is real or imagined (Wikipedia is ambivalent about Brooke's sexuality and his relationships, although it also claims that he had a son). For me it certainly worked as a device to get to the heart of Brooke's character. Only a lover can get close enough to witness his changes of mood and the inner feelings behind the public face of a man in a position of power. And only a lover can properly express an alternative view of the horrors he witnesses whilst in that man's company.
Once again, Williams has given us a riveting account of a little known episode in the history of colonialism. Along the way he provides some superb descriptions of the flora, fauna and traditional culture of this corner of Malaysia.
As a side note, Brooke's story has been told, with the same title, by Nicholas Monsarrat, the writer best known for The Cruel Sea, and other novels based on his service in the Royal Navy during the second World War. I recall reading the first of these in my youth but have no recollection of that earlier iteration of The White Rajah, which was published in 1961. As a further note, Williams's book was first published in 2010. This new edition is published on May 21st. I received an advanced copy for review via Rosie Amber's review service.

[Terry Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the third in this series (the Williamson papers), Back Home, five years ago, and adored it - they're all stand alones. I read Book #2, Cawnpore, shortly afterwards, liked it but in a 4* rather than a '5* OMG' way, and never got round to reading The White Rajah. Then I watched the film Edge of the World, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as James Brooke, and thought, I know of a book about this...

In short, it's a fair bit different from the film, in that it's written from the fictional John Williamson's point of view - he is cast as an interpreter who went with Brooke to Borneo. However, I recognised the atmosphere and the chain of events, but even if I hadn't, I thoroughly enjoyed this book - and apparently it is far more historically accurate than the film! Tom Williams is a fine writer and a most engaging storyteller, his style perfect for the time period, and I was engrossed from the first page. His characterisation is subtle and clever, and the narrative is not without humour (the earlier Governor of Sarawak's military strategy).

I loved reading about the different tribes in their long huts and the traditions; I would have liked to read more about them. Of course, the attitudes of the British men are of the time, and at first they see it as their God-given right - nay, duty - to bring 'civilisation' to the natives, though there is a rather nice passage in which Williamson observes a tribe and considers that they seem quite happy and efficient as they are, thank you very much. About the Dyaks: 'These were a people who knew not the poorhouse nor the lockup, whose lives were not blighted by working in great factories. They knew nothing of steam locomotives or spinning machines but led a simple life at one with nature.'

Highly recommended: 'A tale of adventure set against the background of a jungle world of extraordinary beauty and terrible savagery'.

[Stacy Townend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, i was intrigued and then fascinated to learn that the book was about an actual person & events. I love historical reads such as this as the encourage me to look deeper into the life & time of people. The story of Sir James Brooke is wonderfully captured, a young professional soldier invalided from the Army and seeking adventure. Along with friends they escape the mundane living of British Society on their own boat seeking trade & commerce abroad. This 1st taste of freedom does not live up to Brooke’s expectations and the friends part ways, some years later Brooke returns and a few old friends and crew reunite in a new adventure to Borneo to seek trade & commerce with the Sultan. Brooke agrees to support the Sultan of Borneo in a fight against rebels, there is some political intrigue here with the ruling society of Borneo, Brooke wins through and rewarded with the land and title of Rajah of Sarawak here he strives to improve commerce and the lives of the local populace with whom he becomes popular. Brooke has to deal with racial conflict, internal political & court conspiracies, piracy. Brooke a true fighting man wins through after some difficulties.
Brooke’s story is told through the eyes of his lover, John Williamson, looking back on Brooke’s life. The two of them are very different characters and from different backgrounds, Brooke a member of society & full of charisma and action whilst Williamson from the working class is more of a loner, but a perfect narrator for the story.
Tom Williams has written a wonderful fictional account of real-life adventurer James Brooke which is filled with colourful narrative, vivid descriptions and very good characterisation, a truly wonderful insight into the life of Sir James Brooke Rajah of Sarawak. Thank you

[Fey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstreads hates me.

I won my copy of The White Rajah on a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway. Alas, I've had problems recently with books from firstreads not actually being delivered, and no idea why that is. I wasn't one to pester or nag, but when I got around to inquiring, the author was so kind enough to give me an ebook copy as a replacement. But it has been a ridiculously long time between winning the book and actually reviewing, which is a shame.

This novel is the fictional memoirs of John Williamson, a shipman whose path crosses with James Brooke when he enlists as crew for his first exploratory trade mission to the South China Seas. Brooke is asked by the Sultan of Borneo to help supress a rebellion in his empire, and Brooke hopes to foster trade relations by doing so. As a reward for their victory Brooke is given ruleship of the kingdom of Sarawak, hence becoming the first White Rajah. Williamson soon becomes indespensible to Brooke, being helpful in fostering good relations with the locals, aswell as his seamanship skills. The two gradually foster a close friendship and eventually become lovers. But being Rajah is obviously not as simple as living luxuriously in a palace, and Brooke soon finds that amongst problems such as piracy, political problems and racial prejudice, he'll soon find it hard enough to hang on to his kingdom at all.

It must be noted that whilst James Brooke is a real historical figure, and the main historical facts can all be verified. John Williamson is only debatably a real person, and the relationship between the two seems to be mostly conjecture. Of course, it's historical fiction, that's entirely the point, but it's nice to be have a knowledge of which parts are from the history books and which parts are the author's imagination.

Williamson was an interesting character for a point of view. Being neither born of nobility or educated, he was an outsider to Brooke and his rank of friends. But his close relationship with Brooke elevated him to a level where he could observe and provide a unique view on everything that went on, whilst remaining almost a detached observer. In a way tho, this was also one of the novels main failings. As whilst Williamson gives a good point of view, he also remains too detatched. In scenes where there was battle action Williamson fails to get involved and the action remains just a series of facts and figures that could have been gleaned from a history book. There was no real emotional involvement.

I feel that neither Williamson or Brooke were really fully developed as characters. I never felt like I knew them except as details of where they went and what they did. I never felt an atatchment to them, or a connection to their feelings and emotions.

In conclusion, The White Rajah makes for an interesting read, but was overal a bit dry, and would do a lot better with more depth to the characters. A bit more emotion could really have bumped it up a star or two.

[Lynn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Williams has written a wonderful fictional account of real-life adventurer James Brooke which is filled with colourful narrative, vivid descriptions and very good characterisation.
Brooke, formerly of the the East India Company finds himself employed by the Sultan of Borneo to help suppress a rebellion and ends up as ruler of Sarawak and and is known to history as The White Rajah. To tell you more would be to give away too much about the author’s unique take on Brooke’s eccentric personality but this is one of those stories that if it were not known to be true, would seem too unlikely a plot for a novel.

Brooke’s story is told through the eyes of his lover, John Williamson, looking back on his life. I have no idea whether Brooke was actually gay, and it doesn’t matter. What matters is how well the relationship between the flamboyant Brooke and the rather more reserved Williamson is portrayed. The author gives a good insight into Victorian attitudes to homosexuality and Willamson is a good narrator.

I’ve not visited that part of the world, but the descriptions felt very alive without making the book feel like a travelogue. I reached the end of the novel with a strong sense of wanting to know more about the place, the historical background and the characters, which is always a good sign when finishing a historical novel.

[Penny Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional account in the form of a memoir of the exploits of James Brooke, who became the Rajah of Sarawak. Looking for adventure, Brooke heads to the South China Seas with his lover, John Williamson, the author of the memoir.
This is the story of how he is appointed as Rajah by the Sultan of Borneo and how he has to negotiate the complexities of life there, dealing with the different political factions and ethnic groups.
I’d never heard of Brooke before, so this was an interesting departure for me. The author has obviously undertaken a lot of research, his descriptions of the geography, the history, and the politics is thorough and evocative; one certainly got the sense of the atmosphere of mistrust and manoeuvrings that were taking place at the time. Beautifully written, this is a compelling story about an enigmatic man and his influence on the foundations of trade and commerce in the South China Seas.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the benefits I've received from the First Reads program is that it often takes me out of my reading rut; this book most definitely was one of those.

This well-written biographical novel is a young man's adventure story as well as his moral coming-of-age. But it is also a tale of love and of war. I was well into the book before I realized it was a homosexual love story but it was presented as a romantic reminissance and the love story was necessary to put the narrator's point-of-view in perspective as he detailed the exploits of his mentor and lover, The White Rajah.

I am very poorly informed about trading in the South China Seas and the British role in the exploitation and/or development of their trading partners in that part of the world. My enjoyment of the book would have been greater if I had a deeper interest in the history of the region.

[Ian Tymms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ripping yarn. A fictionalised account of the life of James Brooke who had a key role in shaping the trading port that is now Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Borneo, Malaysia. I read it prior to holidaying in Kuching and it made a very entertaining and informative prelude to our travels. Worth reading regardless, but a great way to get some context if you're traveling to Borneo.

[Jaretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. At first I was wary since I don't usually read naval stories. While the story does have a naval backdrop, it's really about power, revenge, politics, and love. When I finished the book, I wished there was a sequel!

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to publish through JMS Books LLC in 2010.

[Hal Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture heavy mist - picture preparations for a surprise attack...

Tom Williams describes this and other battles as he brings the story of James Brooke alive. Yes, I did feel it came to life. I could imagine the scenes and feel for those taking part. Why these battles happened, will never be known. Was it because James Brooke wished to look after the interest of his people or was it something to do with private gains? It is always good to be careful about being too black and white in one’s views. What is true, is the fact that James Brooke indeed ruled an area on the island of Borneo from 1841-1868. In the latter part of the rule he, however, spent a lot of time in England where he was buried in Dartmoor. His sister’s son succeeded James as the White Rajah of Sarawak. Both instigated measures that helped the country towards prosperity.

Tom Williams has chosen to narrate the story through the eyes of James Brooke’s (fictional) companion. A male one. There has been suggestions as to his sexuality. It is, however, surprising that Williams would have instigated John Williamson as the partner-narrator. Why surprising you may ask? I find this so, because John is portrayed as being in conflict both with his sexuality and with his part in the battles. There is kind of an attempt to white-wash him with religiously bent hesitance and leaving James more the culprit – even as far as James being responsible for the shaping of John’s character. It is this that brings the four stars I would have otherwise given down to three. Also Tom Williams should have trusted his readers more to judge for themselves what are believable events and what are not. One could even ask how close to real events should the author stick to, if he is basing his story on real characters of history.

Tom Williams succeeds in raising my interest. I googled James Brooke after I finished the book. I even noticed there are several other books about this White Rajah. There is also an interesting similarity to other non-native fighters and the way British traders were asked to help with local battles and wars elsewhere. Having read Wrecked in the Feejees and Pacific Viking gave me a wider perspective for this reading. Now should I read Lord Jim again (forgotten in the years past), as this might actually have a connection with James Brooke? Maybe. But how about you? Should you read The White Rajah? Yes, if you are interested in colonial history. Yes, if you like good stories. Yes, if you like to read about the lives of real people? Yes, if you want a slightly different book. Yes, if you are interested in small battles. Yes, if you collect stamps. Yes, if you are British and like to know about your history.

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[Bookmarked · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping historical adventure set in the exotic jungle of Borneo, The White Rajah tells the true story of James Brooke, an adventurer who became the Rajah of Sawark.
This fictionalised and vivid version of Brooke's life as ruler of a war-torn region in the Far East is narrated by a humble shipmate Williamson who joins Brook on a trading missing to Borneo as an interpreter, grows close to him and becomes his lover and companion.
There are echoes of Conrad's "Lord Jim" in this wonderful book - the distant, exotic settings, the seafaring themes, the richly portrayed locals under threat from pirates/unscrupulous enemies, and concepts of honour, courage, redemption and fairness; Brook, the white Rajah brings to mind Tuan (lord Jim) with Williamson taking on the role of an eye-witness, not unlike Marlow.
A thoroughly enjoyable tale that will take you on an adventure back in time and to far-flung locations.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story of the real life adventures of James Brooke. James is the son of a wealthy English family seeking adventure. A veteran of the military arm of the East India Company, he returns to the South China Seas to trade and seek adventure.  The story is told by John Williamson who starts as a seaman on James' ship but soon becomes his interpreter and lover. On a trip to Borneo looking to trade in the area, James is asked to suppress a rebellion occurring in the province of Sarawak. After his success in the suppression the Sultan names James the new Rajah of Sarawak. The story focuses on his rule of the country and his efforts to protect and improve the lives of his subjects. The story is fictionalized but based on true events and real people. A very interesting read.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do appreciate a novel that educates and also entertains. While I know something about the British Empire's meddling in Asia, I'd never previously come across gentleman-adventurer James Brooke and his stewardship of Sarawak. Clever to show his story from an unusual point of view: John Williamson is an interesting character and the perfect guide.

[Tracy R. Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Williams has a rare gift for effortlessly folding technical concepts into a narrative, and his explanations of the politics of both the era and the area were simple and insightful at the same time.

One of my great difficulties when reading is trying to create mental maps of settings - the layouts of rooms, for instance, or towns. Williams, through his narrator, does not overwhelm the reader with superfluous details that make this difficult. I was never surprised with annoyances like a character who turned left into what was, in my mind, a wall, or a window that faced a bank when I thought it faced the water. Yet I could see banks, the jungle, the clearings; I could smell the dank mud from which the tree roots emerged. I, who know nothing of ships and rigging, could see the crew struggling in a storm.

The storyline itself is fascinating. I had not heard of the White Rajah of Sarawak before this, and was struck by two common adages: The first, found in many forms, was "The more things change, the more they stay the same." The second, attributed to William Tecumseh Sherman, was "War is hell."

[Willo Font · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow... this was a real surprise. Great story; Borneo , 1800's, pirates, wild tribes, betrayal and battles. What's missing? ... a writer who can put it all togehter without making me fall asleep.
I just found this review on amazon aboout this book . By the way the guy who wrote it has some great pirate books.

Tom Williams knows a great deal about James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, and he wants to tell you all about it. Unfortunately, apparently no one ever told him that the first rule of creative writing is "show, don't tell." It was a real effort to keep my eyelids propped up to finish this utterly flat piece of exposition. Adopting the persona of a fictional young seaman who becomes Brooke's lover and interpretor, Williams masters the language of Victorian memoirs, but manages to make the man known as 'the White Rajah' as dull as dishwater. You'd think battle scenes, murder by poison, and a lover's first kiss would be inherently interesting, but not the way Mr. Williams tells it. ~M. Kei, author of Fire Dragon

[Michael Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole, this appears to be a well researched book, full of rich details about Brooke's adventures that made him the White Rajah. The one disappointment I had, and why I give it three stars rather than four, is that the relationship between the narrator and Brooke is related in very timid detail. We're given enough to assume that the two had a physical relationship, but not much more than that. I'm sure there's an argument that the 'discretion' is in line with the first person narrative of an early nineteenth century man, but I would have forgiven the author for straying outside the lines in exchange for a little more detail. Not that I want it to be explicit, but a little more than hugs and kisses between the two characters would make the story a lot better.

[Nan Hawthorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Brook, the White Rajah, is a historical figure. Much of what is in the book is true, though Williams' interpretation of Brook's gay relationship with the narrator is his own story. The result is an interesting account of a rather unsug fellow, Brook, whose fictional love life is far from the central issue, thus refreshing.. Why shouldn't books about such men be books about such men, not ghettoized as "gay literature"? If I had any objsection it was that the love relationship was rather in the background and I should have liked less telling and more showing what the two men meant to each other. Still what is described is what a real memoir probably would have only hinted at. Worth the read, that's for sure.

[Michael Mandrake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and nicely done.

I knew nothing about James Brooke before hand and now, I have a bit more insight into him. :)

[Jill Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story with a historical feel about it.

[John Champneys · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, so good.
Rather up my street.

[Ray Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tales of daring do in Sarawak by this historical character.