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Anna and the King of Siam: The Book That Inspired the Musical and Film The King and I Audiobook
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(3.01) - 775 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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. It was a lush landscape of mystic faiths and curious people, and 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 beautifully imagined scenes, Margret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten exotic land. Written more than fifty years ago, and translated into dozens of languages, Anna and the King of Siam (the inspiration for the magical play and film The King and I)continues to delight and enchant readers around the world.
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"I fell in love with the musical first, and now I can say I thoroughly enjoyed the book as well. I could relate to Anna as a teacher, especially as I will be leaving myself to teach in a foreign country soon. Inspiring how one woman's compassion and strength could have such an impact on the history of an entire country. I don't doubt that Landon embellished the truth at times, but the most important points of the story seem to coincide with fact. In anycase, I consider her way of telling Anna Leonowens' story effective and engaging. I recommend it!"
— Ms (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“An inviting escape into an unfamiliar, exotic past.”
— New York Times -
“An enchanting book. 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
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2013 Audie Award Finalist for Inspirational/Faith-Based Nonfiction
Anna and the King of Siam Listener Reviews
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" Had to read this after seeing the enticing written prologue at the end of the Jodie Foster remake of The King and I" but then I couldn't find the "quote" in the book. Good story and some history of a part of the world I know little about. "
— Liz, 2/19/2014 -
" Absolutely loved this book. I can't imagine being as brave as Anna was to go to a strange country and live let alone teach in a world that she didn't always agree with. This is an amazing story of how one person can influence others to make a better world. A must read for any teacher! "
— Sheena, 1/26/2014 -
" Fictionalized account that was based on the true story of "The King and I." Interesting but I was disappointed it wasn't a true biography. "
— Nancy, 1/1/2014 -
" This was a pleasant surprise. Nothing shocking, perhaps a little more drama than I'd anticipated, having grown up watching the musical film. The chapters divide the book into little short-stories, so it is a nice book to put down and then pick up later. I particularly enjoyed the author's commentary on the politics and society of Siam at this time--it definitely made the book more interesting and the issues dealt with more pertinent. "
— Rebecca, 12/31/2013 -
" A little tedious and hard to get through at times, but very interesting overall. I enjoyed reading about the politics of the time in Siam, the imperialism of both France and England, and the many difficult experiences Anna had while in Siam. Also, it was very interesting to see her influence on the future king and, ultimately, the future of the country. "
— Diana, 12/15/2013 -
" This book had great potential since it was based on a true story that is very interesting. Unfortunately, it was very boring and had hardly any 'catch' to it. I found myself only half reading it while I thought about something else and had to go back and read the whole page again. The movie was much better than the book, and the plot seemed to be way different and more interesting. I'm not sure why they changed the plot, but I am glad they did! :) Don't get this book confused with 'The King and I'. It is slightly different but has the same basic idea. "
— Kenzie, 12/15/2013 -
" Told in a series of vignettes this was informative and thought-provoking but probably could have been told in 200 pages rather than 395. "
— Kathleen, 12/9/2013 -
" The true story of Anna and the King of Siam in no way resembles "The King and I." The King was brutal--he was a true barbarian. However, the young prince benefitted from the teaching of Anna, and he vowed to be different than his father. "
— Marilyn, 12/7/2013 -
" An English widow and her two children go to present day Thailand to serve as governoress and teacher to the many children of the king. She has to adjust to a whole new culture. "
— Fredrick, 12/6/2013 -
" Not totally like either movie, but a wonderful book! A little complicated, you definitely have to engage your brain, but worth every bit of it. Shows how much influence one person can have for good. Fun to learn about another culture. "
— Michelle, 12/3/2013 -
" This is good, but I see why my parents just looked at me when I asked about it as a kid "
— Kari, 12/3/2013 -
" An interesting story, but told in an unsophisticated way. Ostensibly for adults, but the tone often felt too simplistic and seemed to be written for children. "
— H.Friedmann, 12/1/2013 -
" Awesome, awesome, awesome, super awesome. A must read. "
— Alex, 11/18/2013 -
" I was amazed at the courage of Anna Leonowens and the effect one English woman could have on an entire country. Much of the book was fascinating but there were a few slow parts. Still, I loved it. "
— Melinda, 3/6/2013 -
" This is the book the musical "The King and I" is based on. A little on the slow side, but a lot about the Siamese culture. "
— MariLee, 2/21/2013 -
" This book is really good. I expected to see more stories in it about Anna's relationship with the King himself, because of the title, however the book is more about her relationship with the harem women. That doesn't take away from the story, it just wan't what I expected. "
— Abby, 7/19/2012 -
" Amazing book. So much detail about the people and just plain entrancing! "
— Cindy, 6/25/2012 -
" i didn't read this till i was in high school, when my cousin was in the musical. it's hard to believe how life could be not very long ago. "
— Kristi, 5/16/2012 -
" Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (1944) "
— Wyyknot, 2/10/2012 -
" Reminded me of being in the musical. Fun to read the real story. "
— Skye, 2/4/2012
About Margaret Landon
Margaret Landon (1903-1993) first became interested in Anna Leonowens’ story, when a friend recommended to her The English Governess at the Siamese Court which had been published in 1870. Fascinated with the story and its potential, she contacted one of Anna’s grandchildren, and in 1941 began to seriously research writing an updated (and vastly more entertaining) version of the book. Anna and the King is the product of her efforts.
About Anne Flosnik
Anne Flosnik, a seasoned audiobook narrator, has over four hundred titles to her credit and several awards and distinctions, including AudioFile Earphones Awards, a USA Today Recommended Listening selection, an AudioFile “Best Narration of the Year” selection in 2009, and the American Library Association’s Special Services to Children Award. She has also been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She is an award-winning British actress with lead credits on stage, on television, and in commercials and voice-overs.