Of Princes and Patriots: Chronicles of the Threlphax by Laura Lee Dooley is a fascinating historical novel of early Siam (Thailand) in 1864 that weaves an element of science fiction into the narrative. When Chanchai was just a young boy hiding in a sugarcane field from local boys who were bullying him, he witnessed a celestial event that changed his life forever. Watching what he thought were shooting stars, he found himself in the center of an explosion, surrounded by glittering translucent tendrils that he neither understood nor could explain. He just knew that somehow, he was now different.
Arriving in Bangkok, Chanchai found refuge in a rag-tag band of children who survived by sleeping rough and stealing food from market stall owners. After being discovered and rescued by an English teacher of the Royal Princes, Chanchai found himself in a world of wonder in the opulence of the Royal Palace. Two things Chanchai understood about his encounter with the “falling stars”: he healed from any wounds or illness exceedingly quickly, and he appeared not to age beyond his adult years. After an English education, Chanchai returned to Thailand and participated in the development of the nation, but on a distant battlefield in Korea, he again confronted the strange alien phenomena that had changed his life forever, so many years ago.
Of Princes and Patriots is an epic tale of mystery, adventure, and excitement that will captivate readers’ hearts and minds. Author Laura Lee Dooley has seamlessly woven a wonderful tale of early life in Siam during the period of European colonialism in South East Asia. Thailand stands alone, unique, in having never been under colonial domination, unlike the rest of South East Asia. I appreciated the amount of time the author put into character development, especially that of Chanchai. The closeness and caring that developed between the various street-gang members was endearing, as was Chanchai’s love of Prisana, the young girl who welcomed him into the gang. I was fascinated by the reception Chanchai received when he attended university in England.
The author perfectly portrayed the elitist Eton boys who viewed Chanchai almost as a zoo exhibit, to be stared at and dismissed. By giving Chanchai such immense longevity, it enabled the author to canvas 150 years of Thailand’s history in a single story, which, as a history nerd, I found enthralling. This is a wonderful journey, full of emotion, tragedy, and pathos, but also one that ends with the joy of reunion and acceptance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am excited to have found a new author with such a vibrant style and imagination. I thoroughly recommend this book.
~ Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite
