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‘East is East and West is West and ne’er the twain shall meet’. So expounded Rudyard Kipling. He was right in many respects but mainly in the sense that they would never see things through the same lens. This is as true today as it was 350 years ago.
In 17th century Siam (today’s Thailand) an unprecedented historical event occurred: a simple Greek cabin boy serving with the English East India Company (the greatest monopoly ever created, whose then president Elihu Yale was to found Yale University) became Chief Minister (Prime Minster in today’s parlance) of Siam under its ruler, King Narai the Great, known as The Lord of Life. No foreigner would again achieve such heights, and Siam would remain one of the rare countries never to be colonized.
This man, Constantine Phaulkon (born Gerakis, meaning a falcon in Greek) became one of the great adventurers of all time, a multi lingual buccaneer, both ruthless and benevolent, greedy and giving, brilliant and devious, whose relentless ambition and predatory instincts were somewhat tempered by the love and respect he bore for his autocratic master, King Narai, and the country he served and had come to call his own.
Based on a true story, this is a tale of independence and anti colonialism in 17th century Asia, at a time when greedy European powers ventured East to rival for riches and domination of this newly discovered continent. It is the story of a man pursued by two ravishing women of different Faiths, the one a strict Catholic brought up on monogamy and the other a Buddhist conditioned to accept the role of ‘minor wife’.
Set against a background of unrivaled beauty and exotic customs it has been translated into numerous languages and met with wide acclaim. Here is but a brief sample:
“An exciting, sweeping, bejewelled tale”: Sunday Telegraph (London)
“ This is the stuff of which epic films are made.” Irish Times (Ireland)
“As thrilling as any Spielberg swashbuckler. There is only one worry: that the word END must eventually appear.” Elle Magazine (France)
“ A thoroughly enjoyable adventure story. It is also the most successful fictional treatment of Thailand by a foreigner yet published.” Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Genre: Historical
In 17th century Siam (today’s Thailand) an unprecedented historical event occurred: a simple Greek cabin boy serving with the English East India Company (the greatest monopoly ever created, whose then president Elihu Yale was to found Yale University) became Chief Minister (Prime Minster in today’s parlance) of Siam under its ruler, King Narai the Great, known as The Lord of Life. No foreigner would again achieve such heights, and Siam would remain one of the rare countries never to be colonized.
This man, Constantine Phaulkon (born Gerakis, meaning a falcon in Greek) became one of the great adventurers of all time, a multi lingual buccaneer, both ruthless and benevolent, greedy and giving, brilliant and devious, whose relentless ambition and predatory instincts were somewhat tempered by the love and respect he bore for his autocratic master, King Narai, and the country he served and had come to call his own.
Based on a true story, this is a tale of independence and anti colonialism in 17th century Asia, at a time when greedy European powers ventured East to rival for riches and domination of this newly discovered continent. It is the story of a man pursued by two ravishing women of different Faiths, the one a strict Catholic brought up on monogamy and the other a Buddhist conditioned to accept the role of ‘minor wife’.
Set against a background of unrivaled beauty and exotic customs it has been translated into numerous languages and met with wide acclaim. Here is but a brief sample:
“An exciting, sweeping, bejewelled tale”: Sunday Telegraph (London)
“ This is the stuff of which epic films are made.” Irish Times (Ireland)
“As thrilling as any Spielberg swashbuckler. There is only one worry: that the word END must eventually appear.” Elle Magazine (France)
“ A thoroughly enjoyable adventure story. It is also the most successful fictional treatment of Thailand by a foreigner yet published.” Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Genre: Historical
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Used availability for Axel Aylwen's The Falcon of Siam