Sylvia; Queen of the Headhunters by Philip Eade was published in 2007. It is a biography of Sylvia Brooke, who was the consort of the 3rd and last 'White Rajah' of Sarawak. Ranee Sylvia's eccentric behaviour was thought to have contributed to the downfall of this 'bizarre dynasty of English despots who ruled their jungle kingdom on Borneo' from 1841 until 1946.
I love this book because the history of Sarawak seems bizarre enough with having had 'White Rajahs'. The short version: James Brooke became the 1st Rajah when he restored order in this province which was then under the suzerainty of the Sultan of Brunei; he was succeeded by his nephew Charles Johnson who assumed the surname of Brooke. Charles' son Vyner then became the 3rd and last Rajah, who ceded Sarawak to Britain. Vyner's wife Sylvia was this multi-talented but very erratic, quirky/kooky, even 'racy' 'White Ranee' to add to this interesting period. Also their three daughters and their colourful lifestyles. Sounds like a Hollywood movie? Well, I think it all seem much, much more intriguing!
This is Philip Eade's first book and it deals with a subject no one ever did before, other than Sylvia herself who wrote two autobiographies: Sylvia of Sarawak, Hutchinson, 1936 & Queen of the Head-Hunters, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1970 (plus nine other works, mainly fiction). There are books on the 'White Rajahs' dynasty but none focused on their Ranees.
Note: When we visited Sarawak before, we only visited the Cat Museum, not the Sarawak Museum. So I cannot ascertain how much of Sylvia is documented/recorded there, but the author did mention '... that the Malaysian government is not excessively keen on harping back to the days of the White Rajahs - witness the dismantling of the display devoted to their dynasty at the Kuching museum'.
Ex Libris CNB 1898
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