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'An absorbing read. Exhaustively researched and gracefully written, The King in Exile tells a story of compelling human interest, filled with drama, pathos and tragedy... [It] heralds the arrival of a writer of non-fiction who is both uncommonly talented and exceptionally diligent... One of the great merits of [the book] is that it is completely free of jargon and theorizing. It is in essence a family story, centred on five women whose lives were waylaid by history' Amitav Ghosh in his blog 'The captivity of Burma's last king and the fall of the Konbaung dynasty: a compelling new account'. In 1879, as the king of Burma lay dying, one of his queens schemed for his forty-first son, Thibaw, to supersede his half brothers to the throne. For seven years, King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat ruled from the resplendent, intrigue-infused Golden Palace in Mandalay, where they were treated as demi-gods. After a war against Britain in 1885, their kingdom was lost, and the family exiled to the secluded town of Ratnagiri in British-occupied India. Here they lived, closely guarded, for over thirty-one years. The king's four daughters received almost no education, and their social interaction was restricted mainly to their staff. As the princesses grew, so did their hopes and frustrations. Two of them fell in love with 'highly inappropriate' men. In 1916, the heartbroken king died. Queen Supayalat and her daughters were permitted to return to Rangoon in 1919. In Burma, the old queen regained some of her feisty spirit as visitors came by daily to pay their respects. All the princesses, however, had to make numerous adjustments in a world they had no knowledge of. The impact of the deposition and exile echoed forever in each of their lives, as it did in the lives of their children. Written after years of meticulous research, and richly supplemented with photographs and illustrations, The King in Exile is an engrossing human-interest story of this forgotten but fascinating family.
393 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
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May 12, 2018
Royals reduced
Britain ate the Kingdom of Burma in three gulps during the nineteenth century, about thirty years apart. The last bite, the Kingdom of Upper Burma with its capital at Mandalay (where flying fishes did not play), was taken after a very short war in 1885. The previously divine King Thibaw, his queen and the royal family were hustled off to exile in India, eventually living in the isolated town of Ratnagiri, just north of Goa, until the King died in 1916. Though the British deposed him and packed his family off into exile, they still treated them quite well, with monthly stipends that provided a living standard far above what any common Indian ever could expect. The family was kept in a large mansion but all contacts outside were vetted by British officials. The royal couple's four daughters (referred to in the book as First, Second, Third and Fourth Princesses) grew up in isolation from society but with many servants and English "companions". These girls received almost no education. The former king and queen too had few resources to fall back on. They wasted the money they managed to bring with them as well as the generous pensions the British government gave them. They constantly fell into debt to unscrupulous moneylenders. Two extremely inappropriate liaisons occurred. Once the king died, the others were allowed to return to Burma, but to little avail. The life stories of the last representatives of Burma's Konbaung dynasty are tales of decline and decay. Due to their resentment of losing the throne and their lavish lives of privilege, plus the fact that they had no educational background, the family did not even learn English, though that would have helped them in their never-ending struggle with British bureaucracy.
This rather oddball book is written very well in a casual style which holds your interest. We follow the fates of King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat, their children and grandchildren up to 2008. Though the Fourth Princess proved strong and active in promoting the royal "cause" vis-a- vis the British government, most of the others emerge as extremely ordinary people once the royal status is removed. None of them succeeded in any field, even though they might have married some able partners. Most marriages (made very late in most cases due to government interference) had some connection to money---the money that spouses thought they'd get by marrying into the family. On the way through these life stories, the reader comes to know a lot about Burmese customs and history, and the workings of the British colonial empire. The large number of black and white photos adds significantly to the work.
Britain ate the Kingdom of Burma in three gulps during the nineteenth century, about thirty years apart. The last bite, the Kingdom of Upper Burma with its capital at Mandalay (where flying fishes did not play), was taken after a very short war in 1885. The previously divine King Thibaw, his queen and the royal family were hustled off to exile in India, eventually living in the isolated town of Ratnagiri, just north of Goa, until the King died in 1916. Though the British deposed him and packed his family off into exile, they still treated them quite well, with monthly stipends that provided a living standard far above what any common Indian ever could expect. The family was kept in a large mansion but all contacts outside were vetted by British officials. The royal couple's four daughters (referred to in the book as First, Second, Third and Fourth Princesses) grew up in isolation from society but with many servants and English "companions". These girls received almost no education. The former king and queen too had few resources to fall back on. They wasted the money they managed to bring with them as well as the generous pensions the British government gave them. They constantly fell into debt to unscrupulous moneylenders. Two extremely inappropriate liaisons occurred. Once the king died, the others were allowed to return to Burma, but to little avail. The life stories of the last representatives of Burma's Konbaung dynasty are tales of decline and decay. Due to their resentment of losing the throne and their lavish lives of privilege, plus the fact that they had no educational background, the family did not even learn English, though that would have helped them in their never-ending struggle with British bureaucracy.
This rather oddball book is written very well in a casual style which holds your interest. We follow the fates of King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat, their children and grandchildren up to 2008. Though the Fourth Princess proved strong and active in promoting the royal "cause" vis-a- vis the British government, most of the others emerge as extremely ordinary people once the royal status is removed. None of them succeeded in any field, even though they might have married some able partners. Most marriages (made very late in most cases due to government interference) had some connection to money---the money that spouses thought they'd get by marrying into the family. On the way through these life stories, the reader comes to know a lot about Burmese customs and history, and the workings of the British colonial empire. The large number of black and white photos adds significantly to the work.
December 27, 2016
The book can change your point of view of Kig Thibaw. He is not good ruler but he is very soft and kindness man. In myanamar, most of the ppl don't know about the last king , what happen after going to India. That book is refill the lacking of myanmar history.
November 5, 2013
I will say it's a well-researched non-fiction book. I am a Burmese and as I felt the King and his family's stories personally, it was really hard for me to read through as this is not a book about our ex-King's glory.
I've learnt quite a lot and wish we had many more thoroughly researched history published in English.
I've learnt quite a lot and wish we had many more thoroughly researched history published in English.
June 4, 2022
Most of us have only read, in passing, about kings being exiled. But this is the first time I've read closely about one's exiled life. This is a well - written, well - researched, deeply engrossing account of the last king of Burma & his family who're exiled by the British to Ratnagiri, India.
This is a story of karma, of ambitious but ignorant queens & princesses, and weak kings. The book begins with life in Burma during King Mindon's reign, an ambitious, pure-blooded princess' fancy for her step - brother, her mother's approval of this prince as a perfect, controllable king & her plots to make him the next king & hence, her daughter as the next queen. This book describes the political conditions in Burma, the British & French trade & struggle for control over the country, the private & public lives of the Burmese monarchy. It then describes the conditions which led the British to threaten Burma with war & hence resulted in the king ceding his throne & surrendering to exile. The book then covers, in detail, the life of the royal couple & their 4 princesses during the exile in Ratnagiri.
The detailing in this book is commendable. From the smallest aspects like their food, clothing, interactions etc. to bigger, more serious matters like the family's negotiations with the British for money, autonomy & repeated requests to return to Burma; make this book an enjoyable & informative reading. Almost every other sentence has citations which keep reinforcing the credibility of the book.
So unbiased is the book that one can't help feeling sympathy as well as anger, at different times, for the royal family as well as the British. At times, it's a tragicomedy to read accounts of how closely the British monitored & controlled the royal family's pension & personal matters, from approving staffing, to suggesting the king to get his daughters married, to finding suitable prospects for them, to responding to every complaint from the family, including handling squabbles between the princesses! One can't believe these activities were carried out by officers of the same British govt. whose other officers were crushing India's freedom struggle in that very period in the rest of the country, including carrying out the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre!
The final portion of the book covers, in equally great detail, the life of each individual of the king's family after their return to Burma after the king's death in Ratnagiri. There are individual chapters dedicated to the queen, the 4 princesses, their marriages & married lives, their children & even their grandchildren!
No family must've been so closely documented in any book! Truth is stranger & more colorful than fiction. The exiled life of the last king of Burma & his family beats all fiction. But it does leave a sad undertone, especially the lives of the 4 princesses who grew up being told about their glorious ancestry & a glorious life which was their birthright but which they could never have. They suffered worse fates than regular people because they grew up in abject isolation in a strange country not their own, struggled with heartbreaks & difficult marriages just like ordinary people, and were even forced to live in abject penury.
The illustrations collected from various sources bring the book to life because many famous structures like the royal Burmese Golden Palace were destroyed, and the final homes where the queen & her daughters lived & died were too ordinary & nondescript to be remembered.
This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in Burma and/or its monarchy, Asian history, non-fiction, or in studying the life of monarchy in exile.
This is a story of karma, of ambitious but ignorant queens & princesses, and weak kings. The book begins with life in Burma during King Mindon's reign, an ambitious, pure-blooded princess' fancy for her step - brother, her mother's approval of this prince as a perfect, controllable king & her plots to make him the next king & hence, her daughter as the next queen. This book describes the political conditions in Burma, the British & French trade & struggle for control over the country, the private & public lives of the Burmese monarchy. It then describes the conditions which led the British to threaten Burma with war & hence resulted in the king ceding his throne & surrendering to exile. The book then covers, in detail, the life of the royal couple & their 4 princesses during the exile in Ratnagiri.
The detailing in this book is commendable. From the smallest aspects like their food, clothing, interactions etc. to bigger, more serious matters like the family's negotiations with the British for money, autonomy & repeated requests to return to Burma; make this book an enjoyable & informative reading. Almost every other sentence has citations which keep reinforcing the credibility of the book.
So unbiased is the book that one can't help feeling sympathy as well as anger, at different times, for the royal family as well as the British. At times, it's a tragicomedy to read accounts of how closely the British monitored & controlled the royal family's pension & personal matters, from approving staffing, to suggesting the king to get his daughters married, to finding suitable prospects for them, to responding to every complaint from the family, including handling squabbles between the princesses! One can't believe these activities were carried out by officers of the same British govt. whose other officers were crushing India's freedom struggle in that very period in the rest of the country, including carrying out the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre!
The final portion of the book covers, in equally great detail, the life of each individual of the king's family after their return to Burma after the king's death in Ratnagiri. There are individual chapters dedicated to the queen, the 4 princesses, their marriages & married lives, their children & even their grandchildren!
No family must've been so closely documented in any book! Truth is stranger & more colorful than fiction. The exiled life of the last king of Burma & his family beats all fiction. But it does leave a sad undertone, especially the lives of the 4 princesses who grew up being told about their glorious ancestry & a glorious life which was their birthright but which they could never have. They suffered worse fates than regular people because they grew up in abject isolation in a strange country not their own, struggled with heartbreaks & difficult marriages just like ordinary people, and were even forced to live in abject penury.
The illustrations collected from various sources bring the book to life because many famous structures like the royal Burmese Golden Palace were destroyed, and the final homes where the queen & her daughters lived & died were too ordinary & nondescript to be remembered.
This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in Burma and/or its monarchy, Asian history, non-fiction, or in studying the life of monarchy in exile.
August 18, 2021
The book I want to recommend is ''The King in Exile'' by Sudha Saha. I want to give 5stars (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)to that book because I very much enjoyed this book.
It was about the personal life of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma. For many people in our country, King Thibaw is known as a man of weak character who is easily manipulated by his strong-willed wife, Queen Supayalat. In our school, we only learned that the last king of Burma was sent to exile to Ratnagiri, and the history stops there. Most of the people in our country don't know about the last king, what happened after going to India. That book has refilled the lacking of Myanmar history. The book can change your point of view of King Thibaw. I will say it's an amazingly well-researched non-fiction book. The life of the royal family is divided into three parts before, during, and after the exile. The book is very unique in concept and very well presented.
Every Myanmar people should read this book to understand our history better. Because most of the historical data in our History textbooks are not incompleted and a little wrong. So I want to recommend to read that book😉 .
Htet Htet
It was about the personal life of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma. For many people in our country, King Thibaw is known as a man of weak character who is easily manipulated by his strong-willed wife, Queen Supayalat. In our school, we only learned that the last king of Burma was sent to exile to Ratnagiri, and the history stops there. Most of the people in our country don't know about the last king, what happened after going to India. That book has refilled the lacking of Myanmar history. The book can change your point of view of King Thibaw. I will say it's an amazingly well-researched non-fiction book. The life of the royal family is divided into three parts before, during, and after the exile. The book is very unique in concept and very well presented.
Every Myanmar people should read this book to understand our history better. Because most of the historical data in our History textbooks are not incompleted and a little wrong. So I want to recommend to read that book😉 .
Htet Htet
February 14, 2024
It's basically a biography of the Burmese royal family, taking us beyond what we already knew. It covers the golden days of the king's father, the intense battles for the throne, the wars with the British, and their exile, offering more depth than the few books that touched on this before.
This book pulls together the lives of the king's family during their years in India and the later lives of the princesses (the king's daughters and grandchildren) in a way that feels like you're binge-watching a drama series—except it's all real, which is kinda heartbreaking. It's hard to pinpoint who's to blame for the tragedies, but surprisingly, the story is a blast to read.
Myanmar (Burma) has faced its fair share of tough times, especially politically. Here's hoping they move towards genuine democracy soon.
This book pulls together the lives of the king's family during their years in India and the later lives of the princesses (the king's daughters and grandchildren) in a way that feels like you're binge-watching a drama series—except it's all real, which is kinda heartbreaking. It's hard to pinpoint who's to blame for the tragedies, but surprisingly, the story is a blast to read.
Myanmar (Burma) has faced its fair share of tough times, especially politically. Here's hoping they move towards genuine democracy soon.
September 19, 2021
There is very little written on the Burmese monarchy in English. This is very accessible book gives you an easy to read look at the last court of Burma and the lives of the King Thibaw & Queen Supayalat and their children after they were exiled to India in 1885.
The author has managed to reconstruct the court of Burma in a way I have not seen before. You get a glimpse of its lush richness and back-stabbing ways. You also see why the subsequent exile was such a jolt. The King died well before the Queen did and this book takes you through not just the King and Queen's lives but also that of their daughters and their subsequent fates.
If you want to really learn anything about the last of the Burmese royals then this book has to be on your reading list.
The author has managed to reconstruct the court of Burma in a way I have not seen before. You get a glimpse of its lush richness and back-stabbing ways. You also see why the subsequent exile was such a jolt. The King died well before the Queen did and this book takes you through not just the King and Queen's lives but also that of their daughters and their subsequent fates.
If you want to really learn anything about the last of the Burmese royals then this book has to be on your reading list.
June 14, 2020
ภายในหนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเนื้อหาที่เล่าครอบคลุมสมาชิกทุกคนของกษัตริย์ธีบอ กษัตริย์องค์สุดท้ายแห่งราชวงศ์คองบอง ก่อนที่พม่าจะถูกยึดเป็นเมืองขึ้นแก่เครือจักรภพอังกฤษ
ตัวหนังสือนั้นจะแบ่งออกเป็นสามภาคได้แก่ เรื่องราวก่อนการเนรเทศ เป็นการเล่าความเป็นมาของพระเจ้าธีบอและพระนางศุภยาลัตมเหสี ในภาคนี้เราจะได้เรียนรู้ความเป็นอยู่ของสมาชิกราชวงศ์ก่อนการล่มสลาย การหาคู่ครอง การเมืองในราชสำนัก การแย่งชิงบัลลังก์และการสังหารหมู่สมาชิกราชวงศ์อันน่าขนลุกที่หนังสือเรียกว่าเป็น “ประเพณี” เพื่อป้องกันการก่อกบฏ
นอกจากเรื่องภายในวังแล้วการเมืองระหว่างประเทศก็มีการเขียนอธิบายสถานการณ์ต่างๆไว้ จนนำไปสู่การเนรเทศกษัตริย์พม่าไปอินเดีย จากนั้นจะเข้าสู่ภาคสองของหนังสือ ซึ่งเล่าสภาพความเป็นอยู่ การปรับตัวของสมาชิกราชวงศ์อันสูงส่งของพม่าในดินแดงไกลปืนเที่ยงของอินเดียจนถึงช่วงที่พระเจ้าธีบอสิ้นชีวิต
ในส่วนของภาคที่ 3 จะเป็นชะตากรรมของครอบครัวที่เหลือหลังจากพระเจ้าธีบอสิ้นพระชนม์ พระมเหสีและเจ้าหญิงทั้งสี่พ้นสภาพจากเป็นผู้ถูกเนรเทศแต่แทนที่ทั้งหมดจะได้กลับบ้านเกิด ต่างคนต่างมีเป้าประสงค์ของตัวเองกระจัดกระจายกันไปชวนเวทนาย��่งนัก
แน่นอนว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้ถูกจัดในหมวดสารคดี(ชีวประวัติ) หลายท่านอาจจะสงสัยว่ามันน่าเบื่อหรือไม่ ในมุมมองของผมนั้นไม่คิดว่าหนังสือเรื่องนี้น่าเบื่อแต่อย่างใด การเล่าเรื่องเรียบง่าย สามารถอ่านได้อย่างไหลลื่นแต่ด้วยเนื้อหาที่ครอบคลุมตั้งแต่ชะตากรรมของพระเจ้าธีบอไปจนถึงรุ่นหลานหนังสือเล่มนี้จึงอาจจะหนาไปบ้างสำหรับบางคน
สิ่งที่ผมชอบอีกอย่างในหนังเล่มนี้คือการเล่าเรื่องของผู้เขียน ที่ไม่ได้เขียนด้วยความเคารพยกย่องหรือเขียนด้วยอคติกับครอบครัวของพระเจ้าธีบอ แต่เขียนด้วยมุมมองคนนอกที่เห็นชีวิตครอบครัวหนึ่งที่เคยอยู่จุดสูงสุดลงมาตกต่ำ และส่งผลอย่างไรต่อลูกหลานที่ยังยึดติดกับชื่อเสียงเงินทอง มันคือมุมมองของผู้ที่ปลงกับความไม่เที่ยงแท้แน่นอนของชีวิต
ราชันผู้ผลัดแผ่นดินเมื่อพม่าเสียเมือง เป็นหนังสือที่มีเนื้อหาครอบคลุมช่วงสุดท้ายของเจ้าแผ่นดินพม่า ถ่ายทอดออกมาโดยปราศจากอคติหรือเคารพการเทิดทูน แต่เป็นการถ่ายทอดด้วยความเวทนาสงสารควรค่าแก่การอ่านอย่างยิ่งครับ
bit.ly/2V1Fbqz
ตัวหนังสือนั้นจะแบ่งออกเป็นสามภาคได้แก่ เรื่องราวก่อนการเนรเทศ เป็นการเล่าความเป็นมาของพระเจ้าธีบอและพระนางศุภยาลัตมเหสี ในภาคนี้เราจะได้เรียนรู้ความเป็นอยู่ของสมาชิกราชวงศ์ก่อนการล่มสลาย การหาคู่ครอง การเมืองในราชสำนัก การแย่งชิงบัลลังก์และการสังหารหมู่สมาชิกราชวงศ์อันน่าขนลุกที่หนังสือเรียกว่าเป็น “ประเพณี” เพื่อป้องกันการก่อกบฏ
นอกจากเรื่องภายในวังแล้วการเมืองระหว่างประเทศก็มีการเขียนอธิบายสถานการณ์ต่างๆไว้ จนนำไปสู่การเนรเทศกษัตริย์พม่าไปอินเดีย จากนั้นจะเข้าสู่ภาคสองของหนังสือ ซึ่งเล่าสภาพความเป็นอยู่ การปรับตัวของสมาชิกราชวงศ์อันสูงส่งของพม่าในดินแดงไกลปืนเที่ยงของอินเดียจนถึงช่วงที่พระเจ้าธีบอสิ้นชีวิต
ในส่วนของภาคที่ 3 จะเป็นชะตากรรมของครอบครัวที่เหลือหลังจากพระเจ้าธีบอสิ้นพระชนม์ พระมเหสีและเจ้าหญิงทั้งสี่พ้นสภาพจากเป็นผู้ถูกเนรเทศแต่แทนที่ทั้งหมดจะได้กลับบ้านเกิด ต่างคนต่างมีเป้าประสงค์ของตัวเองกระจัดกระจายกันไปชวนเวทนาย��่งนัก
แน่นอนว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้ถูกจัดในหมวดสารคดี(ชีวประวัติ) หลายท่านอาจจะสงสัยว่ามันน่าเบื่อหรือไม่ ในมุมมองของผมนั้นไม่คิดว่าหนังสือเรื่องนี้น่าเบื่อแต่อย่างใด การเล่าเรื่องเรียบง่าย สามารถอ่านได้อย่างไหลลื่นแต่ด้วยเนื้อหาที่ครอบคลุมตั้งแต่ชะตากรรมของพระเจ้าธีบอไปจนถึงรุ่นหลานหนังสือเล่มนี้จึงอาจจะหนาไปบ้างสำหรับบางคน
สิ่งที่ผมชอบอีกอย่างในหนังเล่มนี้คือการเล่าเรื่องของผู้เขียน ที่ไม่ได้เขียนด้วยความเคารพยกย่องหรือเขียนด้วยอคติกับครอบครัวของพระเจ้าธีบอ แต่เขียนด้วยมุมมองคนนอกที่เห็นชีวิตครอบครัวหนึ่งที่เคยอยู่จุดสูงสุดลงมาตกต่ำ และส่งผลอย่างไรต่อลูกหลานที่ยังยึดติดกับชื่อเสียงเงินทอง มันคือมุมมองของผู้ที่ปลงกับความไม่เที่ยงแท้แน่นอนของชีวิต
ราชันผู้ผลัดแผ่นดินเมื่อพม่าเสียเมือง เป็นหนังสือที่มีเนื้อหาครอบคลุมช่วงสุดท้ายของเจ้าแผ่นดินพม่า ถ่ายทอดออกมาโดยปราศจากอคติหรือเคารพการเทิดทูน แต่เป็นการถ่ายทอดด้วยความเวทนาสงสารควรค่าแก่การอ่านอย่างยิ่งครับ
bit.ly/2V1Fbqz
August 27, 2017
In school, I only learned that the last king of Myanmar was sent to exile to Ratanagiri and the story stopped there. I never knew what exactly happened to the royal family afterwards. Whenever I heard speculations on how one princess got married to a servant as a mistress or how many princesses got divorces, I was confused or sometimes enraged "How could our last royal family do such things?"
This book made me understand what really happened to the royal family - their misfortunes, their struggles and their endurance. After all, an exile is far worse of a fate than a death.
Every Myanmar should read this book to understand our history better.
This book made me understand what really happened to the royal family - their misfortunes, their struggles and their endurance. After all, an exile is far worse of a fate than a death.
Every Myanmar should read this book to understand our history better.
December 30, 2013
Author spent significant time to research the real history. Impressive Job had done by Sudha Shah. Pretty painful story to read..
December 6, 2018
After reading Amitav Ghosh’s “The Glass Palace” I kept thinking about the royal family of Burma. Luckily for me, “The Glass Palace” also inspired the author of this book. King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat ruled for seven years in their extravagant palace. After losing a war to Great Britain in 1885, they also lost all their privileges and had to live in exile in British controlled India with their four daughters. This gives a detailed account of how the family lived and followed up with how the daughters managed after their exile ended.
August 5, 2017
I used to read "The Glass Palace" many years ago. Because I am Thai, it's too difficult to explain what I felt after reading that good book.
I have tried to put off my plan to read "The King in Exile" for many years, but now, guess I cannot stop my curiosity and I am ready to learn more about one of the most important chapters in Myanmar history.
Most of its contents are like what I read in The Glass Palace, but with more details. Only one word I can say after reading this book is.....Disaster!!
I have tried to put off my plan to read "The King in Exile" for many years, but now, guess I cannot stop my curiosity and I am ready to learn more about one of the most important chapters in Myanmar history.
Most of its contents are like what I read in The Glass Palace, but with more details. Only one word I can say after reading this book is.....Disaster!!
September 24, 2017
I admire the author's hard work and dedication. It is well researched and well written. Reading this book is time well spent and satisfying my curiosity about the last king of Myanmar and his forgotten family. It would be tragic and painful but they lived thru it.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change", Charles Darwin.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change", Charles Darwin.
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September 27, 2020A heartbreaking story of the last king of Burma under the British colonial atrocities. This book is a very well researched contemporary history of Burma, not based on assumptions and imaginations and interpretations!
June 26, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book. Sudha Shah did an excellent job in capturing the essence of the last king of Burma and his family's life in exile and their return to Burma after the king's death. A very worthwhile read.
December 8, 2017
One of the most insightful books about the last King of Burma.
June 26, 2023
ดีมากกกกก ใครชอบแนวนี้พลาดไม่ได้ แนะนำค่ะ
December 18, 2020
Sudha Shah's fluid style of narration, makes "The King in exile" an interesting read. Anyone who had read Amitav Ghosh's "The Glass Palace" would have wondered what happened to king Thibaw's four daughters. Sudha Shah answers all the questions and more. A well researched, authentic book on the Burmese royalty, and how the next three generations coped with the changing times. The book extensively covers the lifestyle lead by the Burmese king, in and out of power. A must read.
May 14, 2013
When I was in school, the one subject I used to dread was history. So I thought, the books that were anywhere close to history, would never be my cup of tea (or coffee). But when I started to read “The King in Exile,” by Sudha Shah on 12th of January 2103, I finished 89 pages of the book in one sitting. I give credit to the author for that. Though the names are difficult especially of the daughters and the grandchildren of the King but still I felt a lot of effort has gone into the book. I read the book after that in bits and pieces because I was reading The Glass Palace along with this book and this book provided me with a lot of extra knowledge which made the story in The Glass Palace more interesting. She has supplemented the book with photographs. The timeline mentioned at the end is actually a very good ready reference.
This book is about the life of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma, and his family. The book starts with the childhood of Thibaw and Supalayat, his reign as the King, his exile in Ratnagiri, India and later years of the family.
He became the King in 1879 and ruled for seven years from Mandalay. In 1885, after losing their kingdom is a war against Britain, the King and his family were exiled to Ratnagiri in India where they lived for 31 years. The British seized his riches and property and gave the family a meager allowance. They were closely guarded and had to get approval for everything: how much money they could spend, who they could meet, who they could hire, even for holding rituals like the ear boring ceremony. The four princesses grew up with the staff of their house. Though the queen taught them all the housework including, sewing, cooking, making paper flowers, the princesses were little or not educated.
The King died in 1916 in Ratnagiri and the queen and the three princesses went back to Rangoon in 1919. She has even described the lives of the four princesses and their children and grand children in details. Queen Supalayat died in 1825. The first princess returned to Ratnagiri and stayed there till she died in 1947 after living a life of poverty. The second princess lived in Kalimpong with her family and died in 1956. The third and the fourth princesses lived in Burma, the third princess died in 1962 while the fourth princess died in 1936.
What I found most interesting about the family was that even though they were going through a final crisis, they were still generous even the grandchildren.
The book is very unique in concept and very well presented.
This book is about the life of King Thibaw, the last king of Burma, and his family. The book starts with the childhood of Thibaw and Supalayat, his reign as the King, his exile in Ratnagiri, India and later years of the family.
He became the King in 1879 and ruled for seven years from Mandalay. In 1885, after losing their kingdom is a war against Britain, the King and his family were exiled to Ratnagiri in India where they lived for 31 years. The British seized his riches and property and gave the family a meager allowance. They were closely guarded and had to get approval for everything: how much money they could spend, who they could meet, who they could hire, even for holding rituals like the ear boring ceremony. The four princesses grew up with the staff of their house. Though the queen taught them all the housework including, sewing, cooking, making paper flowers, the princesses were little or not educated.
The King died in 1916 in Ratnagiri and the queen and the three princesses went back to Rangoon in 1919. She has even described the lives of the four princesses and their children and grand children in details. Queen Supalayat died in 1825. The first princess returned to Ratnagiri and stayed there till she died in 1947 after living a life of poverty. The second princess lived in Kalimpong with her family and died in 1956. The third and the fourth princesses lived in Burma, the third princess died in 1962 while the fourth princess died in 1936.
What I found most interesting about the family was that even though they were going through a final crisis, they were still generous even the grandchildren.
The book is very unique in concept and very well presented.
February 6, 2020
Overall a good read. Lot to know about personal lives of royal family of Burma. The book is divided into four parts. The first part narrates about the past events before king Thaibow came to throne. It depicts the events leading to Thaibow and Supayalat marriage and palace intrigue to assert the power.
During the colonial period, the situation in Burma as well as in Indian princely state was somewhat similar. These states were far away from Renaissance that ultimately resulted in industrial revolution which was indirectly responsible for rise of middle class and development of democracy. Burma was misruled by ministers who were still in medieval times. As British wanted to create buffer states around their crown jewel India , they were constantly seeking an opportunity to annex Burma. The palace intrigues resulting in a death of almost 200 family members gave them the reason. With the help of disciplined army they captured Mandalay then capital within a short period of time and with very less bloodshed. Even though king Thaibow was learned man he was not able ruler like his father king Mindon. He was a family man always bowing to the wishes of his queen and decided to accept the fate. He was moved to Madras first then after the birth of his third daughter permanently moved to Ratnangiri, a small town in Maharashtra.
The third part of book deals with the lives of royal family during their stay at Ratnangiri.
During the colonial period, the situation in Burma as well as in Indian princely state was somewhat similar. These states were far away from Renaissance that ultimately resulted in industrial revolution which was indirectly responsible for rise of middle class and development of democracy. Burma was misruled by ministers who were still in medieval times. As British wanted to create buffer states around their crown jewel India , they were constantly seeking an opportunity to annex Burma. The palace intrigues resulting in a death of almost 200 family members gave them the reason. With the help of disciplined army they captured Mandalay then capital within a short period of time and with very less bloodshed. Even though king Thaibow was learned man he was not able ruler like his father king Mindon. He was a family man always bowing to the wishes of his queen and decided to accept the fate. He was moved to Madras first then after the birth of his third daughter permanently moved to Ratnangiri, a small town in Maharashtra.
The third part of book deals with the lives of royal family during their stay at Ratnangiri.
September 30, 2015
อ่านประวัติศาสตร์ของพม่ากัน
เป็นช่วงสูญเสียราชบัลลังค์ และล่มสลายของราชวงค์คองบอ���
ต่างกันกับของคึกฤทธิ์ (ที่เคยอ่าน เสมือนนิทานก่อนนอน)
อ่านแล้วจะเห็นความเท่าทันของโลกที่ก้าวไปเรื่อย ๆ
ถ้าไม่ปรับตัวตาม ไม่ปรับความคิดตาม ไม่ว่าราชวงศ์ไหนก็ล่มสลายได้เช่นกัน
ยังไม่นับรวมถึง การไม่ยอมรับในปัจจุบันของตัวราชวงศ์เอง ที่ไม่ปรับตาม
ไม่ก้าวตามให้ทันโลก ไม่ศึกษา หรือไม่ทำความเข้าใจ
และอีกด้านก็เสนอถึงการถูกแย่งชิงสิทธิ ของกษัตริย์ และราชวงศ์ ที่ถูกโลกอันทันสมัยแย่งชิง (?)
รวมถึงความรุ่งเรืองของพม่าในอดีต ราชวังมัณฑเลย์ ความร่ำรวย ราชประเพณี
เชิญชวนมาอ่านกัน อ่านสนุก ไม่น่าเบื่อเลย
เป็นช่วงสูญเสียราชบัลลังค์ และล่มสลายของราชวงค์คองบอ���
ต่างกันกับของคึกฤทธิ์ (ที่เคยอ่าน เสมือนนิทานก่อนนอน)
อ่านแล้วจะเห็นความเท่าทันของโลกที่ก้าวไปเรื่อย ๆ
ถ้าไม่ปรับตัวตาม ไม่ปรับความคิดตาม ไม่ว่าราชวงศ์ไหนก็ล่มสลายได้เช่นกัน
ยังไม่นับรวมถึง การไม่ยอมรับในปัจจุบันของตัวราชวงศ์เอง ที่ไม่ปรับตาม
ไม่ก้าวตามให้ทันโลก ไม่ศึกษา หรือไม่ทำความเข้าใจ
และอีกด้านก็เสนอถึงการถูกแย่งชิงสิทธิ ของกษัตริย์ และราชวงศ์ ที่ถูกโลกอันทันสมัยแย่งชิง (?)
รวมถึงความรุ่งเรืองของพม่าในอดีต ราชวังมัณฑเลย์ ความร่ำรวย ราชประเพณี
เชิญชวนมาอ่านกัน อ่านสนุก ไม่น่าเบื่อเลย
October 2, 2014
It is an amazingly well researched book . For a non fictional account of The life and times of the exiled Burmese king Thebaw it makes very good reading.
Considering the author got interested in this research after reading Amitav Ghosh The Glass Palace, The book is arich source of primary information of material found from Ratnagiri, chennai , mumbai, london . calcutta and myanmar.
Sudha Shah has raised the bar for historical research.
Considering the author got interested in this research after reading Amitav Ghosh The Glass Palace, The book is arich source of primary information of material found from Ratnagiri, chennai , mumbai, london . calcutta and myanmar.
Sudha Shah has raised the bar for historical research.
April 9, 2024
Very well researched and tragic story!!!
March 16, 2016
Excellent narrative. History unfolds like novel. ultimately takes you to the sad end. Aauthor creates the scene of the story in your mind. You feel that you were there on the locations.
August 16, 2016
เรื่องนี้สอนให้รู้ว่า #adaptordie คือความจริงที่สุด
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