Talk:Anna Leonowens
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I moved the following statement here from the article space. - Montréalais 22:59, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)
In case of doubt, the bulk of this article is taken from a never-to-be-published book of which I am sole author. user:Deb
Firstly, well done Deb. :) Secondly, have you seen this page: "The Truth About Anna Leonowens (http://www.thaistudents.com/kingandi/owens.html)"? It says that she was really born as Anna Edwards in India, possibly of mixed race (well, she did look it, don't you think?), that her husband was really named Thomas Leon Owens (not "Leonowens"), and so on and so forth. Oh yes, and she was apparently a grandaunt of Boris Karloff. :) It looks like the information comes from scholarly research (by a certain Dr. W. S. Bristowe), but I haven't looked into it properly. I've been meaning to for years, since the subject came up on a mailing list I used to belong to, about genealogy in India, and it sounded interesting, but I've never got round to it... -- Oliver P. 17:10 26 May 2003 (UTC)
- Thanks for the link. It's interesting as much for what it doesn't say as for what it does. Sounds like Dr Bristowe is not a historian -- but then, neither am I. I know that it was a shock to the Caernarfon town council when they discovered, round about the time of the film remake, that she hadn't really been born there. However, some of the other stuff mentioned is not really all that startling. "Romance of the Harem" was fiction, so it's pointless to criticise it for lack of authenticity. When did a little thing like that ever bother a Victorian author?
- I don't want anyone to think of this as my article. I added that bit at the bottom just in case anyone thought I had copied it from somewhere. It was originally written specifically with reference to Anna's Welsh roots -- now discovered to be very questionable. However, I hope it will get changed, updated and corrected as further facts become known.
- And no, Oliver, of course I didn't mean you. Deb 17:06 27 May 2003 (UTC)
- Okay, cool. :) I'll try to read up about her a bit more, and then I might feel daring enough to edit the article... -- Oliver P. 11:31 28 May 2003 (UTC)
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Anna a Complusive Liar
Anna, of course, claimed that he husband, Mr Leon Owen , was an officer in the Welsh Guards. However, research has shown that there was no officer of that name in this or in any other regiment of the British army. It seems clear too that she was of mixed race and certainly no gentlewoman. Research has shown also that her husband was an inn keeper in India and that he sister married a common soldier in the British army in India.
Her role at court was not at all what she claimed. She ran one of several schools within the palace where children of courtiers and others could receive education (such schools still exist in the palace). She was never a tutor to the Prince Chulalongkorn, who, as heir to the throne, was tutored by leading aristocrats of great learning. She may, however, have practiced English with him. She certainly never had the role of royal adviser that she claimed and, indeed, court records of the time indicate that she met the king only once.
It is clear that much of what she recorded in her books about Siam and King Mongut was complete fantasy. Very little of what she recorded stands up to historic scrutiny. She was, it appears, a compulsive liar.
In America she she needed to make money and she produced the books and gave lectures that aimed to provide what her audiences wanted to hear. The more sensational and self serving the better.
You may not think her fantastic and libellous ravings are important but, here in Thailand King Mongut is revered and great offence is felt by the people at the way Hollywood and others continue to promote her false claims as though they were historic truths.
She was the first in a long line of westerners of somewhat shady background who have come to Bangkok to re-invent themselves.
Kevin O’Sheehan. Kevinbangkok@hotmail.com
Deceased husband
Re your article on Anna Leonowens. Her husband died and is buried in the Christian cemetery of Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia not Singapore as you stated. I saw it last week whilst on holiday there.
New Link
Added "Truth about Anna Leonowens" link to the page. I thought it is very informative, although heavily bias. However, it is rather hard to find an article supporting Anna that actually studied her life thoroughly. Greatly appreciated if anyone will add a link that will support Anna's claim.
I moved the following statement here from the article space. - Montréalais 22:59, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)
In case of doubt, the bulk of this article is taken from a never-to-be-published book of which I am sole author. user:Deb
Firstly, well done Deb. :) Secondly, have you seen this page: "The Truth About Anna Leonowens (http://www.thaistudents.com/kingandi/owens.html)"? It says that she was really born as Anna Edwards in India, possibly of mixed race (well, she did look it, don't you think?), that her husband was really named Thomas Leon Owens (not "Leonowens"), and so on and so forth. Oh yes, and she was apparently a grandaunt of Boris Karloff. :) It looks like the information comes from scholarly research (by a certain Dr. W. S. Bristowe), but I haven't looked into it properly. I've been meaning to for years, since the subject came up on a mailing list I used to belong to, about genealogy in India, and it sounded interesting, but I've never got round to it... -- Oliver P. 17:10 26 May 2003 (UTC)
- Thanks for the link. It's interesting as much for what it doesn't say as for what it does. Sounds like Dr Bristowe is not a historian -- but then, neither am I. I know that it was a shock to the Caernarfon town council when they discovered, round about the time of the film remake, that she hadn't really been born there. However, some of the other stuff mentioned is not really all that startling. "Romance of the Harem" was fiction, so it's pointless to criticise it for lack of authenticity. When did a little thing like that ever bother a Victorian author?
- I don't want anyone to think of this as my article. I added that bit at the bottom just in case anyone thought I had copied it from somewhere. It was originally written specifically with reference to Anna's Welsh roots -- now discovered to be very questionable. However, I hope it will get changed, updated and corrected as further facts become known.
- And no, Oliver, of course I didn't mean you. Deb 17:06 27 May 2003 (UTC)
- Okay, cool. :) I'll try to read up about her a bit more, and then I might feel daring enough to edit the article... -- Oliver P. 11:31 28 May 2003 (UTC)
Anna a Complusive Liar
Anna, of course, claimed that he husband, Mr Leon Owen , was an officer in the Welsh Guards. However, research has shown that there was no officer of that name in this or in any other regiment of the British army. It seems clear too that she was of mixed race and certainly no gentlewoman. Research has shown also that her husband was an inn keeper in India and that he sister married a common soldier in the British army in India.
Her role at court was not at all what she claimed. She ran one of several schools within the palace where children of courtiers and others could receive education (such schools still exist in the palace). She was never a tutor to the Prince Chulalongkorn, who, as heir to the throne, was tutored by leading aristocrats of great learning. She may, however, have practiced English with him. She certainly never had the role of royal adviser that she claimed and, indeed, court records of the time indicate that she met the king only once.
It is clear that much of what she recorded in her books about Siam and King Mongut was complete fantasy. Very little of what she recorded stands up to historic scrutiny. She was, it appears, a compulsive liar.
In America she she needed to make money and she produced the books and gave lectures that aimed to provide what her audiences wanted to hear. The more sensational and self serving the better.
You may not think her fantastic and libellous ravings are important but, here in Thailand King Mongut is revered and great offence is felt by the people at the way Hollywood and others continue to promote her false claims as though they were historic truths.
She was the first in a long line of westerners of somewhat shady background who have come to Bangkok to re-invent themselves.
Kevin O’Sheehan. Kevinbangkok@hotmail.com
Deceased husband
Re your article on Anna Leonowens. Her husband died and is buried in the Christian cemetery of Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia not Singapore as you stated. I saw it last week whilst on holiday there.