The Falcon Takes Wing

The Falcon of Siam #2

by Axel Aylwen

Set in Siam in the late 17th century, this first novel portrays the successful ascent of Constant Phaulkon, Greek by birth and British by adoption, from a position as a member of the British East India Company to the powerful role of first minister to King Narai of Siam.

Genres: Fiction, Historical

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the series.

A marvelous swashbuckler of a tale.

Page-turner!

Perils of Pauline!

Life and death on every page!

Life in 17th Century Siam was vicious, lovely, and cruel.

Can a Greek Prime Minister survive serving the Thai absolute monarch? Will the mother of his child from his English days destroy his career? Will his Catholic wife kill him because of his Thai minor wife (read mistress)?

Tune in to find out.

[Rose Gan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is undeniably a great read but I continue to struggle with the author’s missed opportunities to develop his female characters and give us at least a glimpse of their lives and experiences. As a historian and author of this period myself ( albeit of the 18th rather than 17th century) I would also quibble with the heroic portrayal of Phaulkon - as colourful and adventurous as he was, he was as culpable as White in the corruption and criminal activity that is depicted here. However, Aylwen has masterfully recreated the world of Siam in King Narai’s reign and it is hard not to be carried away by this novel. He certainly makes a convincing reinterpretation of events that is entirely plausible!

[KunJae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have lived in Thailand the last 14 years and found this book to be interesting. What is still true is that many Thai men have major and minor wives. Sometimes they live together and function quite well somewhat like members of the Mormon church which also practices polygamy. The Dutch, English and French are gone now except the many mongers that come here for the easy girls. Sad to see but I do not blame them as their women are grossly fat and ugly. I will read the last book in the series but am getting tired of hearing about how wonderful Falcon is. Maybe he will get his in the end and then I will be relived.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel to the first book. Although set a few years after the ending of the first one, the story flows neatly and is very much a consequence of the events set in motion previously. In this regard, the recapitulations are sometimes a bit cumbersome, at least if you are reading the books back-to-back. But otherwise an entertaining read that keeps you wanting to know how the protagonist manages to solve the new threats to Siam's independence.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story but I read it on the kindle and it was absolutely riddled with errors, to the point where it actually detracted from the story and rendered it almost unreadable. I was invested in the characters from the first book however, and was stuck on a long train journey across Thailand so I stuck with it. I loved the story and history, especially while being there and just wish it would have been properly edited.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about Constantine Phaulkon, based on fact, who was advisor and prime minister in Siam under King Narai during the Ayuthaya period. A fascinating account of this Greek man who rose to power and helped keep Siam out of the clutches of the warm-mongering Dutch and British colonial powers.

[Anne Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avec une intrigue encore un peu plus complexe que le premier volet, celui-ci fait la part belle à la trahison, la piraterie et la cupidité. Sans oublier la convoitise des Français et des Anglais pour ce morceau de paradis idéalement situé qu'était le Siam dans leurs conquêtes asiatiques. Le héros est toujours le même, roué, intelligent, plus rapide que l'éclair. Et attachant !