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Empire of the East

Travels in Indonesia
3.75 goodreads logo

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( 102 ratings, 11 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Empire of the East by Norman Lewis, readers embark on a fascinating journey through Southeast Asia as Lewis provides vivid accounts of his travels. The author details the vibrant cultures, landscapes, and the tensions of post-colonial changes in the region. This travel narrative weaves historical context with personal experiences, offering a rich tapestry of the East’s enchanting diversity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$7600

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this captivating journey through Southeast Asia if you're intrigued by vivid storytelling and cultural exploration. The author shares remarkable insights and adventures from the region, offering readers a rich tapestry of history, landscapes, and diverse cultures. It's perfect for anyone with a wanderlust for Asian destinations or an interest in travel narratives that meld personal experiences with broader historical contexts.

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An account of three arduous journeys into the most contentious corners of Indonesia, from acclaimed travel writer Norman Lewis.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Norman Lewis was eighty-three years old when, in 1991, he embarked on a series of three arduous journeys into the most contentious corners of Indonesia: into the extreme western edge of Sumatra, into East Timor, and Irian Jaya. He never drops his guard, reporting only on what he can observe, and using his well-honed tools of irony, humour, and restraint to assess the power of the ruling Javanese generals who, for better or worse, took over the 300-year-old dominion of the exploitative Dutch colonial regime.

Empire of the East is the magnificent swan-song of Britain's greatest travel writer.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Empire of the East by Norman Lewis is highly praised for his skill in capturing the essence of his era with a unique blend of insight and wit. The Sunday Times lauds him as an unmatched observer of both the positive and negative aspects of his time.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780601021

Publisher: Eland Publishing Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 April 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Eland Publishing Ltd

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 280

About the Author

Norman Lewis' early childhood, as recalled in Jackdaw Cake, was spent partly with his Welsh spiritualist parents in Enfield, North London, and partly with his eccentric aunts in Wales. Forgoing a place at university for lack of funds, he used the income from photography to finance travels to Spain, Italy and the Balkans, before being approached by the Colonial Office to spy for them with his camera in Yemen. It was from his service in the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War that his masterpiece, Naples '44, emerged. Norman Lewis wrote thirteen novels and thirteen works of non-fiction, mostly travel books, but he regarded his life's major achievement to be the reaction to an article written by him entitled Genocide in Brazil, published in the Sunday Times in 1968. This led to a change in the Brazilian law relating to the treatment of Indians, and to the formation of Survival International.

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