Showing results for "Governess" in History

The English Governess at the Siamese Court, written in 1870, vividly recounts the experiences of one Anna Harriette Leonowens as governess for the sixty-plus children of King Mongkut of Siam, and translator and scribe for the King himself. Bright, young, and energetic, Leonowens was well-suited to her role and her writings convey a heartfelt interest in the lives, legends, and languages of Siam's rich and poor.

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, ...