Anna and the King of Siam (1944) - Margaret Landon Audiobook

Written by Margaret Landon
Read by Anne Flosnik
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

The Book That Inspired the Musical and Film The King and I

Publisher: Mission Audio
Release date: December 1, 2011
Duration: 16:52:26

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 of 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 first for a film (1946, 1999) and later for the magical play The King and I) continues to delight and enchant readers around the world.

The story is filled with detailed description and is delivered unfortunately with little vocal variation by narrator Anne Flosnik. Those who love history and travel; those seeking dramatic action and adventure will do better to find a different reader…AudioFile