John Hoskin

Falcon at the Court of Siam by John Hoskin

Based on the life of Constantine Phaulkon, Hoskins had written a gripping tale of seventeenth century Siam. Phaulkon achieved something no foreigner since his time has ever achieved: he became the right hand of a Siamese king.

Phaulkon left Greece when he was 11 years old and became a seaman on English merchant ships. He eventually arrived in Siam and began his steady climb to the top of the heap through his many trade connections. Phaulkon was determined to make his fortune in Siam with those very same trade connections. However, his journey to success was not always smooth. The English, the French and other Siamese courtiers within the Kingdom all tried to use Phaulkon to their advantage. None held sway for any length of time.

King Narai was anxious to develop better connections with Western powers as well as with China and Japan. Phaulkon found himself in an enviable position due to his language and business skills. Over time, Phaulkon realized that his own star rose on how closely aligned he was to King Narai. The closer Phaulkon got to Narai, the greater his power increased but once Narai died, time was the only thing Phaulkon had left and that was in short supply.

Narai’s palace is about 1 hours drive from my house and going there is like stepping back into the seventeenth century. Everything has been preserved exactly the way it had been in its heyday. It really is spectacular to spend time there. There is not much mention of Phaulkon at the palace; there are a few guarded references to a foreigner having some limited influence but that is about it.

This is fictionalized historical narrative was a good read for anybody interested in life in seventeenth century Southeast Asia. I live in Thailand and I am still amazed by some of the information contained in the story.
Highly recommended.

Happy Reading,… (meer)