Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the <i>King and I</i> Governess"Anna Leonowens has been a historical puzzle. Susan Morgan establishes a solid ground for our understanding of this intriguing writer who became famous in our time thanks to a Broadway musical. Her life and contributions as a writer, a humanist, and a 19th century feminist were far richer beyond being the 'I' with the King."—Thongchai Winichakul, author of Siam Mapped: A History of the Geo-Body of a Nation "With extraordinary detective work, Susan Morgan uncovers the real tale of a brilliant and dynamic traveler who cut ties to her past history and fabricated the story of her life that has found its way into legend. In lovely and graceful prose, she uses this story to help us understand patterns of national and international life."—Allan M. Winkler, author of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Making of Modern America "With sensitive writing and meticulous research, Bombay Anna offers the first comprehensive biography of Anna Leonowens, the 'I' in The King and I, which gave my father, Yul Brynner, his signature role. The details of her self-invention are only part of the revelation Susan Morgan provides; she also paints a masterful portrait of the Britain's Raj and its colonial hegemony in Southeast Asia. It is a fascinating read." —Prof. Rock Brynner, author of Yul: The Man Who Would Be King |
Contents
A Life of Passing | 1 |
A Methodist a Soldier and a Lady Not Entirely White | 11 |
Hatherleigh Parsonage as it looked in 2001 | 16 |
A Company Childhood | 29 |
Daughter of the Deccan | 42 |
Love and Bombay at Last | 56 |
A Life Sublimated above the Ordinary | 70 |
Singaporefrom an original sketch ca 1857 | 71 |
House of Mr and Mrs Mattoon Siam 1864 | 141 |
The Paths to Goodbye | 153 |
An American Writer | 167 |
Mrs Annie Fields | 169 |
James T Fields | 170 |
Avis Leonowens Fyshe picture carte de vista | 179 |
Portrait of Anna painted by Robert Harris | 187 |
Louis Leonowens | 191 |
A Teacher and a King | 88 |
Anna Leonowens in midlife | 89 |
His Majesty the King of Siam King Mongkut | 98 |
A Job in a Palace | 104 |
The Noble and Devoted Women Whom I Learned to Know to Esteem and to Love | 118 |
The kings son heir apparent to the throne Prince Chulalongkorn | 119 |
Settled in Bangkok | 136 |
Mrs Anna H Leonowens Montreal QC 1903 | 196 |
Anna Leonowens in old age | 201 |
Margaret Landon ca 1931 | 208 |
Kenneth Landon ca 1931 | 210 |
245 | |
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Common terms and phrases
American Anglo-Indian Anna and Louis Anna Harriett Anna Leonowens Anna wrote Anna’s Annie Aubaret Avis Bangkok barracks became Billy Billy’s Bombay born Bowring Treaty Bradley British cantonment child Christian Chulalongkorn Cobb Company’s consul culture daughter dear died Donohoe East India Company England Enniscorthy European father foreign French consul friends Fyshe Girgaum girls Glascott Grand Palace Halifax happy harem husband Indian Army inner palace Ken’s King Mongkut King of Siam king’s lady letter living London Margaret Landon married Mary Anne Mary Anne’s Mattoon military missionaries mother moved Nang Harm officers Patrick Patrick Donohoe political Poona port Prince regiment Romance royal harem Sanskrit Selina sent ships Siam’s Siamese Singapore slavery social soldiers Sonklin stay Thai Thailand Thomas Tom’s took trade Western Wheaton College widow wife Wilkinson William wives woman women writing young