English Governess at the Siamese Court
In 1862, Anna Leonowens embarked on a unique journey. She was hired by King Mongkut of Siam to educate his extensive family - 39 wives, concubines, and 82 children. The King sought to provide them a modern Western education, a task that previous missionaries wives had failed to accomplish. Anna took her son Louis to Bangkok, leaving her daughter Avis in England. She served in the Siamese court for nearly six years, first as a teacher and then as the kings language secretary. Despite the respect and political influence she held, she found herself at odds with the terms of her employment, leading the king to view her as a difficult woman. Her services were acknowledged in the Kings will and by his successor, young King Chulalongkorn. In 1869, she moved to New York and began publishing travel articles, which she later compiled into her memoirs. Her first book, The English Governess at the Siamese Court, brought her fame and controversy. Critics accused her of sensationalism and of overemphasizing her impact on the king. Her critical perspective of court life has sparked debates in Thailand to this day.
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