Falcon, at the Court of Siam

Book excerpt: "Set toward the end of the seventeenth century, Falcon at the Court of Siam recounts the true story of Constantine Phaulkon, a Greek of low birth who spectacularly rose to fame, and infamy, as King Narai's favorite courtier - and in effect, if not name, First Minister of Siam. No other foreigner, before or since, has ever held such a position of power and influence in Siam. Fleeing from his home on Cephalonia at the age of 11, the Greek became a seaman on English merchant ships for the next twenty years, and then enjoyed a meteoric rise to power in Siam--all the time walking a political tightrope between the ill-fated wooing of English and then French allies, and his attempts to outwit dangerous enemies at the Siamese Court who were inflamed by jealousy and anger at his arrogance and ambition. Against a backdrop of pageantry and peril, Phaulkon pursued a destiny of greatness that he believes was his. Was he a man who would become king? A loyal servant to King Narai? Or simply an arrogant, conniving foreigner bent on his own material gain?"--