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The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam

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( 745 ratings, 127 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
The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam by Christopher Goscha offers a comprehensive look at Vietnam's transformation from a pre-colonial state into a modern nation. The book explores Vietnam's complex history, covering its colonial past, struggles for independence, and its development in the contemporary era. Goscha provides insights into the political, social, and economic forces that have shaped Vietnam's path in the modern world.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by Vietnam's complex evolution from the late imperial period to modern times, as it weaves together political, social, and cultural narratives. By offering a fresh perspective on Vietnamese history, it gives a compelling look at the nation's resilience and transformation, making it an insightful read for both history enthusiasts and those interested in modern Southeast Asia.

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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

The first history for a general audience of one of Asia's most fascinating and complex countries.

As more and more visitors come to Vietnam, there has been for some years a need for a major history β€” a book which allows the outsider to understand the many layers left by earlier emperors, rebels, priests, and colonisers. The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam by Christopher Goscha amply fills this role.

Drawing on a lifetime of thinking about Indo-China, he has created a narrative which is consistently seen from 'inside' Vietnam but never loses sight of the connections to the 'outside'. As wave after wave of invadersβ€”whether Chinese, French, Japanese, or Americanβ€”have been ultimately expelled, we see the terrible cost to the Vietnamese themselves.

Christopher Goscha draws on the latest research and discoveries in Vietnamese, French, and English. His book is a major achievement, describing both the grand narrative of Vietnam's story and the byways, curiosities, differences, cultures, and peoples that have done so much over the centuries to define the many versions of Vietnam.

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?

The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam by Christopher Goscha is highly praised for challenging myths and offering fresh perspectives on Vietnam's history, while being both comprehensive and readable. It is regarded as a groundbreaking work that provides an insightful account of the country's past and its complex socio-political landscape. Readers and reviewers applaud Goscha for his detailed research and nuanced understanding, making this book a definitive and essential resource for anyone interested in the historical significance of Vietnam.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141047010

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 May 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 489g

Pages: 688

About the Author

Christopher Goscha is professor of history at the University of Quebec at Montreal. He has spent much of his adult life studying the people, politics and history of Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. He studied at Georgetown University and the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (IV me Section, La Sorbonne). He has written extensively about many of the different regions of Indo-China.

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