Last Post by John Keay
John Keay's epic, expert study of the twenthieth-century demise of colonial rule in the Far East The names echo like the last long notes of a bugle call: Hiroshima, Dien Bien Phu, Tiananmen Square; MacArthur and Mountbatten; The Quiet American and Bridge over the River Kwai. In a twentieth-century welter of war, Depression and Communism four empires crumbled and the West was bundled out of the East. John Keay's acclaimed study of this imperial finale draws on contemporary sources ranging from Ho Chi Minh to Dirk Bogarde. The narrative swoops from the showpiece cities of Shanghai, Saigon and Manila to the tough backwaters of Borneo and the tinkling rice fields of Bali. Grandeur of treatment is matched by trenchant analysis; unexpected continuities are revealed; and to the interaction of West and East is traced the dynamism of the Far East today.
'Just occasionally one comes across a really wonderful bookJohn Keay's Last Post is just such a treasure. Readable, erudite, witty, immensely enjoyable' - Richard Gott, Literary Review 'A superb account... he controls the overall shape of the complex narrative with deceptive grace, while sewing small delightful jewels of detail throughout the fabric' - John Simpson, Sunday Telegraph 'An immensely well-researched and entertaining book' - Simon Heffer, Observer 'It is an astonishing, panoramic view of an immense process' - Jan Morris 'A vivid and impressive account of an extraordinary period of imperial history' - Philip Ziegler, Daily Telegraph 'Readers can both revel in this fine work and yet still become misty eyed at the sound of the Last Post' - William Shawcross, Sunday Times 'A stylish book of clarity and argumentative vigour... Last Post is a model of narrative history, coolly presented and perfectly paced' - Lawrence Norfolk, The Times 'A colourful account of the ebb and flow of empires with splendid digressions on such exotic matters as Shanghai's red light districts; colonial stamps and Dirk Bogarde' - Lawrence James, Daily Mail
John Keay's recent books include Sowing the Wind: The Mismanagement of the Middle East 1900-1960 and Last Post: The End of Empire in the Far East. He lives in Scotland and is married to the author Julia Keay. Together they edited the Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland and are now revising the London Encyclopaedia. They have four children. John's earlier books include standard histories of India and the English East India Company. His latest is Mad About the Mekong: Exploration and Empire in South East Asia.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780719555893 |
| ISBN 10 | 0719555892 |
| Title | Last Post |
| Author | John Keay |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | John Murray Press |
| Year published | 2005-06-06 |
| Number of pages | 400 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |