Complemented by more than 50 illustrations, this volume offers a panoramic view of Vietnam and its people. Its recounting of the story of Vietnam begins more than two thousand years ago, and progresses onward to the twenty-first century. Examining the major political, military, and social developments that have shaped Vietnam, it represents the perfect introduction to this vital country. Tragic and heroic-these two words capture the essence of Vietnam's history. These terms are consciously placed in sequence because no matter what difficulties Vietnam faces, there is a triumph in its people...

How did the inhabitants of several small islands in the Pacific become the world's first non-Western industrialised nation? The answer is found in the fascinating story of Japan's political and social history. This narrative chronicles Japanese history from earliest settlement to the present. It details the establishment of imperial rule under the Yamato clan, the transfer of power from emperor to shogun (supreme military leader), and the Edo period of Japanese isolationism. It also relates the industrial development of the Meiji Restoration, the devastating results of World War II, and...