“She walked down the palace steps toward a horse-drawn carriage. Four footmen in white knee breeches carried the train of her lavender silk gown. She was fifty-four years old and strands of silver ran through her black hair. Despite her many sorrows, Hawaii’s queen walked with dignity. On that January day in 1893, she was determined to right a wrong.”
Julia Flynn Siler, “Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America’s First Imperial Adventure”
Whenever I read or hear the word “last,” I experience an unaccountable sadness. Perhaps it is because there is a feeling of finality – the last word, the last song, the last breath. And yet, I know intuitively, it also signals a new beginning that draws on and is stimulated by what has come before.
Those were my sentiments as I started to read “Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America’s First Imperial Adventure,” by Julia Flynn Siler, the next book on my 2013 Reading Program. There have been many accounts of Hawaii’s history, but I was particularly interested in the Queen who presided over the cultural, social and economic transition of an island paradise.
The narrative is riveting, and encompasses many universal themes that are present in our current reality. Julia Flynn Siler’s writing style is crisp and perceptive as she sweeps readers into an epic where nations battle over a tiny kingdom surrounded by a vast ocean. I’m just at the beginning – stay tuned for updates.
“Siler’s “Lost Kingdom” is a riveting saga about Big Sugar flexing its imperialist muscle in Hawaii … A real gem of a book.”
Douglas Brinkley, author of “Cronkite”
On The Road Book Club 
It sounds like a very interesting read. I don’t know much about the history of Hawaii so I will have to add this one to my reading list!
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You will find this an exception read! It is truly a page turner!! 🙂
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Such a fascinating post about a beautiful culture. Thank you Rebecca~
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Thank you, Cindy! I am fascinated by the machinations and intrigues that this beautiful woman had to endure!! She was grace and elegance personified.
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Another great lady! This short commentary of her courage and view of life is well worth another listen. I enjoyed the music as well.
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I am glad that I chose to read this book. It is not an easy history – a great deal of angst, as is expected whenever there is a cultural upheaval.
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I am sure this is a great read, not just a good read. I think there may be some lovely photos and portraits of the Hawaiian Queen ?????
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There is indeed! I think that you would be interested in this short video!
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That was excellent. Thank you. Much better than what I was trying to look at; a very poor copy of a PBS documentary.
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I know which one you are talking about!!! 😆 Glad you enjoyed it!
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