The English Governess at the Siamese Court Being Recollections of Six Years in the Royal Palace at Bangkok

"The English Governess at the Siamese Court" by Anna Harriette Leonowens, is a real-life story about a woman who becomes a teacher for the children of the King of Siam, taking place in the late 1800s. The story is about her time in the royal palace, teaching the royal children and learning about a culture very different from her own. She talks about how education and different ways of life can clash and come together, as she brought Western ideas to Siam while also trying to understand their traditions. The book starts with her coming to Bangkok on a boat where she thinks about leaving her old life behind. She's excited and nervous to teach the King's kids. When she gets there, meeting important people shows her that her new life will be full of interesting but difficult situations. The book captures her journey as a teacher in a beautiful and complex place.