First published 2004
Tibet carries contradictory legacies of both peace and violence, wisdom and brutality. Patrick French brings decades of fascination with this nation to his exploration of its current reality. Since his teenage years, he has studied Tibetan history, campaigned for its independence, and risked imprisonment to reach its isolated regions. French speaks with Buddhist nuns and nomads, political exiles and those who work with Chinese authorities. He reveals a country worn down by fifty years of Chinese control and dependent on support from Western romantics who misunderstand its true nature. The author challenges popular misconceptions about Tibet, including idealized views of the Dalai Lama himself. French weaves together historical analysis, travel narrative, and personal reflection to create a portrait of extraordinary depth. His intimate knowledge and genuine affection for Tibet drive this passionate examination of a nation caught between its complex past and uncertain future.
Genres: history, travel, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-reflection, travel-narrative
Setting: Tibet
Period: 21st-century
348 pages · Paperback · Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group