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Axel Aylwen

The Falcon Takes Wing is Axel Aylwen's follow-up to best-selling and critically acclaimed novel of Constantine Phaulkon, who became prime minister to King Narai of Siam in the seventeenth century, which was called The Falcon of Siam (reviewed at this site). This sequel has been difficult to find and, although the first book is still sporadically available in Asia Books and other big bookshops here in Bangkok, I had not seen the second one anywhere before it popped up just before Christmas. I snapped up a copy at once. Looking at the inside page, it appears to be a new printing from Falcon Press, which is based somewhere here in the Land of Smiles. As far as I can tell, it is exactly the same version as the original Mandarin Press but I do not have a copy with which to compare directly. Well, it does not really matter anyway.

As for the book, the action takes up where the first left off, with Phaulkon having risen to high rank but having to juggle between the competing interests of the French, Dutch, English, Persians, and Siamese in maintaining a harmonious and independent Siam while still pursuing his own objectives and the two households in which his wives live. The machinations of the Europeans and particularly the French are in sharper focus here and those aware of the history – the novels are set quite closely on historical fact and the facts are quite well-attested owing to the variety of different sources that wrote about King Narai's court – will be tensely awaiting the … well, it would not do to give away the secrets of the plot to those unaware of what is to come next. The prose is completed with Aylwen's usual competent style and close attention to the sense of time and space. I have yet to come across any prose about Thailand or Siam written in English which is the equal of Aylwen's work. It would be possible to read this book as a standalone novel but I would recommend starting with The Falcon of Siam in order to get a fuller, richer picture of the life and times of the Kingdom.

The Falcon Takes Wing is not quite as good as its predecessor but nevertheless does a good enough job in progressing the events towards the next stage of the 1688 Revolution – except that there is no third and concluding novel or, at least, not yet and since this was written in 1991 it seems unlikely that there ever will be. I would be tempted to write it myself if the author has abandoned plans altogether.

Idioma Inglés
Publicación 1991 (2006)
Editorial Falcon Press
Categoría Narrativa


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