The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future Book

The Mekong River runs over a course of 2,000 miles, beginning in the mountains of Tibet and flowing through the countries of China, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the China Sea. Its waters are the lifeblood of Southeast Asia and first begot a civilization along the fertile banks of its delta region nearly two millennia ago. Now world-renowned Southeast Asia expert Milton Osborne tells the story of the peoples and cultures of the Mekong River from these obscure beginnings through the emergence of the independent nations of today. It is the story of the rise and fall of empires, of colonization and liberation, and of a struggle for peace and prosperity that continues into the present. Drawing on a wealth of research material gathered over forty years of studying the region, Osborne creates a narrative that traces the history of the peoples of the Mekong through the development of the great Cambodian empire in the ninth century, the advent of European explorers and missionaries, and the French wars of colonization. He details the struggle for liberation during a century in which Southeast Asia has seen almost constant conflict, including two world wars, the Indochina War, and the Vietnam War, with its bloody aftermath in Cambodia. Along the way, Osborne brings to life the individuals who witnessed and shaped the course of events along the great river. Vibrant, insightful, and eminently readable, The Mekong is a rousing history of a dynamic region that has fascinated readers the world over.Read More