Obscure Kingdoms, journeys to Distant Royal Courts

Fox Edward

Publisheb by Penguin Books, illustrated

Kings can link the human and the divine. But what does kingship really mean?

In Obscure Kingdoms Edward Fox relates journeys to Tonga,Oman, Nigeria, Swaziland and Java to uncover the nature, craft and purpose of kingship. In each country he set out to meet the king, although, as he rapidly discovered, it is a prerogative of royalty to be elusive. Undeterred, Fox proves himself an inspired king-meeter and traveller: with wit and insight he considers the role of kings as heads of state or as splendid cultural relics, and explores power, real and
imagined, ceremonial and the supernatural. Wholly original and highly entertaining, his book invites comparison with the work of our great travel writers.