The King In Exile: The Fall Of The Royal Family Of Burma

This book is a priceless treasure to all Burmese people about the history of the last king and queen of Burma and their family. The book seems thoroughly researched and Sudah Shah went through great lengths to contact the present day descendents of the royal family for more personal viewpoints. Although this is a work of non-fiction, Shah writes in an engaging style that allows the book to be read more as a novel than a report. Anyone interested in Burma's culture or history, especially during British rule, should include this book in their libraries. Thank you Sudah Shah for contributing to the future generations of Burmese people this fascinating and thought-provoking book.

The king in exile is a book about the last king of Burma Thibaw Min who was exiled with his family of 4 daughters and two wives in Ratnagiri from 1885 to 1916.Why I bought this book -I have lived in Ratnagiri where my father used to live, and I used to go there and work in the factory , in the evening to socialise i used to hang out with my only local friend, and we would pass by this beautiful bungalow (almost palatial) called Thibaw palace. I was around 17/18. When I asked him about this, he told me that the Burma King was exiled here, I couldn’t believe it. My life was miserable in Ratnagiri as I couldn’t make a single friend, how could a king survive here?About the Book :The book is a grand tale of a family spanning across 3 generations, its melancholily sad to see a family which were the rulers being exiled for 30 years in Ratnagiri and after then thibaw children and grandchildren to live on government pensions till British independence.The story is told in extremely non-judgemental way as it should be, the story is about decisions and choices we make as well as about how the political and social environment shapes our lives and futures of our children’s and grandchildren’s.One of most important question for me it raised was how the entire Thibhaw clan was a spendthrift as shown in the book, like were they were genetically disposed to living over their means?? and always had to beg and plead with British Government for the money.It a simple book without any literary trappings, also told in a diplomatic way as to not offend the Burmese and care seems to have been taken as to not throw muck. Do read it, if what I wrote interests you.

This informative book gives me a great understanding of how a strong country can overtake a small country. Much like the US taking the sovereignty of Hawaii, Britain took over Burma.This book tells the story of the fall of the Royal Family and how this affected their descendants.The book is easy to read.

Excellent research. Well written. Objective heartfelt empathy for the infernal politics of that era regarding the British attempts to bring their whatever to the region. This book tells why the region now has been changed into a political wasteland without their own tradition of leadership, without their own cultural trajectory for growth and development. This is a good historical account, starting with the king's family, of what happened to the people, the culture, and the country that suffered under British colonial rule.

Worthwhile read about that time and place - southeast Asia. A bit too detailed (this is becoming a recurrent theme in my reading patterns). Quite sad, actually, but at least this King and his family were not despots forever.

Excellent history and written in a very engaging style. Accurate and detailed information covering a largely unknown period. It will be great when it is translated into Burmese.

I LOVE IT.

A wonderful research work that reads like a novel.it complements perfectly Mr Ghosh the Glass Palace.A must for the lovers of Birma.

Enjoyable book. Well researched. Fast paced. Unputdownable once you start. Compliments to the author for an excellent job.

Sehr interessantes Buch über die Geschichte der Königlichen Familie Burmas.Sehr gut recherchiert und informativ ....LesenswertEin must have für jeden Interessierten ...

A wonderful book well researched and full of ethos for anyone who is of burmese origin. I hope it brings about a resurgence of self awareness for all burmese abroad. i know it did for me.

A very touching story of human tragedy. This is the story of how British colonial power ruthlessly captured Burma and unceremoniously threw the royal family of Burma to a remote faraway hamlet of west cost of India in exile and in the process destroyed the very fabric of Burmese society. A family and the society they belong to destroyed beyond their comprehension due to colonialism.A tragic story of worst of colonialism.A good read for those who are interested in colonial history of sub continent.

The book arrived on time and in good condition. I haven't read it as yet because I am still reading other books. It looks interesting from the pictures and summary at the back of the book. I look forward to reading it very soon.