She Was a Queen: Historical Novel

by Maurice Collis

This tale of a peasant girl who rises to nobility in 13th-century Burma and must contend with courtly intrigue and plots of murder was written in 1936 by Collis, who lived in Burma for 20 years. He describes the fall of the Pagan dynasty, based on characters and events drawn from the official account of Burmese history, the Hmannan Yazawin, or Glass Palace Chronicle.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

301 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Maurice Stewart Collis

Reviews

[Hnin Mon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read translated version by mya than tint.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the Burmese translated version by Burmese author Mya Than Tint. It was a really good read (hence, can't put the book down & finished in a day!).

[Nic Abella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished it over a weekend for lack of a better thing to do; our Internet was down. From Becoming Madame Mao to All the King's Sons, this may be my favourite library find yet.

Enter the mystical, exotic world of 13th century Bruma. Being well-versed in medieval Western history I was excited to read one of southeast Asian origin, although intimidated by the prospect of being well out of my depth. Well, I needn't have been worried. Collins portrays a very clear picture of the current state of the Pagān dynasty in a way that requires very little (if none at all) knowledge on Burmese history, only ever making passing references to kings of old, insinuating an ancient and grand history you don't really need intimate knowledge of to be impressed by.

Collins's characters were alive and animated, myself finding an unlikely favourite in the Chief Minister Yazathingyan, whose death, prewarned to the reader as a chapter title, made me audibly gasp, "oh, no!" The King Usana and his sons and their sons were also quite lively characters.

It's not very often I find myself rooting for female characters in novels. In the ones I've read, most of them take up mere background roles, or act as plot devices, and some of them are just not very likable at all (and this is where I remind myself to maybe pick up more contemporary books next time).

Queen Saw, sad as I am to reflect, similarly takes up a background, although omnipresent, role in the very book which claims to tell her life story. It would have been interesting to read more of her motivations and thought processes as to the actions of her kings, and very well how she comes upon her very wise decisions. She takes up an adviser role to the young Dirty Pup, and appears more of a mystical, magical being, like a mystery goddess is what I thought, to the reader, rather than an actual character.

It was quite disappointing to see her deified in a way I'm sure most surviving primary sources already do, but still, at least I found myself amenable to her person. Like many of the cast in the book Queen Saw's depiction fostered in me respect and admiration for the young queen, if not a little bit frustrated at how far away she seemed for a book that was supposed to introduce me to her.

Yet still, I'm glad to have picked up this book at all. From gilded elephants to Cambodian dancers, from oracle spirits to prophetic dreams, this book was magical beginning to end. I am glad this book was my first foray into such ancient and intricate Southeast Asian culture. As I delve deeper into this rabbit hole, I know I'll hold this book fondly in my heart.

[Terry Mulcahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1936, this a really fascinating story. Although it is ostensibly about the last Queen of Burma, it is also a history of Burma in novel form. I learned a great deal about courtly customs, religion, cobras, elephants, and their place in that society. About farming, pagodas, and palaces, and ornamentation, and jewels, and royal ostentation.
The most interesting person was Ma Saw, the Queen, a woman far more intelligent and logical than the Kings she lived with, despite her humble non-royal beginnings, or more likely, because of them. With her abilities, she could have been as cunning as any palace courtier, weaving her way through court intrigues and using politics to dominate the court. However, she was not like that, and wished only to protect and nourish her country. A very well-loved royal, but encumbered by foolish kings who lost the kingdom, through their stupidity, arrogance, preening vanity, and a bit of madness. One would hope we have learned from such examples, but I fear we have not. However, this book is a great read for all of that, with drama, dangers, elaborate executions, outside threats, and miracles.

[Jim Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maurice Collins was a British administrator in Burma early in the 20th century who gave up his post to write historical novels about that country. While I’m not a big fan of historical novels, his are extraordinary in their ability to recreate a time, place and people that most Westerners know little about. She was a Queen is the story of a peasant girl who catches the eye of the Burmese king in the 13th century and then goes on to become a powerful political force in the country before it is defeated by the Mongols. Once you start one of Collins Burma novels, it is nearly impossible to put them down. You enter a world that you do not want to leave.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is from 1937 but takes place in the 1200s in Burma and was written based on historical documents from the 1800s that recounted the country's history. So historical fiction, but absolutely masterfully told. The story follows Ma Saw, a peasant girl who becomes Queen Saw, and the rise and fall of kingdoms around and with her. There's descriptions of the royal court, the countryside, of mysticism vs buddhism, war time with elephants as defenders, and Marco Polo makes an appearance.
This book is now in my top 5, I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter and was on the edge of my seat.

[May Sun Aung · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
Can't believe that the book I was reading is written by an English man.