Alternating between the loveable irascibility and self-mocking humor reminiscent of the poet Cold Mountain (Han Shan), Budbill's poems view the modern world from the viewpoint of a New England hermit-scholar. Remarkable for their generous spirit, accessibility and biting criticism, these poems present a poet of strong mind and voice.

George Orwell's first novel Burmese Days, presents a devastating picture of British colonial rule, inspired by his experiences in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma. The story describes both indigenous corruption and imperial bigotry. John Flory is a white timber-merchant in 1920s in Burma. Disillusioned by imperial life, Flory defies orthodoxy and befriends Indian Dr. Veraswami. The doctor is being pursued by a corrupt magistrate, U Po Kyin, who...

Spector follows up on Eagle Against the Sun, his account of the American struggle against the Japanese in World War II, with a chronicle of the aftermath of this crucial conflict. He tells the fascinating story of the deadly confrontations that broke out--or merely continued--in Asia after peace was proclaimed. Under occupation by the victorious Allies, this part of the world was plunged into new power struggles, or back into old feuds, that in some...

The Travels of Marco Polo is unquestionably one of the world’s greatest travel books and the memoir of the West’s most famous traveler. Composed in 1298, the book describes Marco Polos travels across the entire continent of Asia and provides the only comprehensive travelogue of a European traveler in the East in the Middle Ages. In a magisterial geographical sweep, The Travels of Marco Polo traces Polos epic journey to the farthest reaches of...

William Dalrymple’s award-winning first book: his classic, fiercely intelligent and wonderfully entertaining account of his journey across Marco Polo’s 700-year-old route from Jerusalem to Xanadu, the summer palace of Kubla Khan. 
 
At the age of twenty-two, Dalrymple left his college in Cambridge to travel to the ruins of Kubla Khan’s stately pleasure dome in Xanadu. As he and his companions travel across the width...

"A cookbook for noodle lovers. Discover some of the best dishes that Asia has to offer, from ramen and laksa to zha jiang mian and pad thai. Written by chefs who know their noodles, these recipes celebrate the all-time classics, from dishes fit for a wedding to bowls of instant noodles mixed with gooey cheese. With recipes from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, Noods is (almost) as good as a trip across Asia. Start the day with...

A traveler's guide to visiting Southeast Asia on a small budget, providing detailed itineraries, tips for travelers, and information on inexpensive places to eat, stay, and see, along with an overview of the region's history, culture, and current events.