{"product_id":"anna-and-the-king-of-siam-9780060954888","title":"Anna and the King of Siam","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe bestselling book that inspired the musical play and film \u003cem\u003eThe King and I\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Enchanting. . . . 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!\" --\u003cem\u003eAtlantic Monthly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnna 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStepping off the steamer from London, Anna found herself in an exotic land she could have only dreamed of: a lush landscape of mystic faiths and curious people, and a 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeaving meticulously researched facts with richly imagined scenes, Margret Landon recreates an unforgettable portrait of life in a forgotten exotic land. Originally published in 1944, and translated into dozens of languages, \u003cem\u003e Anna and the King of Siam\u003c\/em\u003e continues to delight and enchant readers around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLandon, Margaret:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Margaret Landon first became interested in Anna Leonowens' story, when a friend recommended to her \u003ci\u003eThe English Governess at the Siamese Court\u003c\/i\u003e which was 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. \u003ci\u003eAnna and the King\u003c\/i\u003e is the product of her efforts.","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50555922514194,"sku":"9780060954888","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_90f27cef-d8bd-4bb1-933a-ad77499f362e.jpg?v=1731744869","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/anna-and-the-king-of-siam-9780060954888","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}