This ambitious book is the first ever to narrate the entire era of Western power in Asia, from the perspective of both the colonial rulers and their subjects. In an easy-to-read style the author introduces an amazing range of events and characters, while revealing at the same time the historical background that has decisively shaped the Asian states of today.
Singapore – September 2009 – For centuries, the major powers of the West were seduced by the allure of the countries of “the Far East”. Spices, textile, silk and tea were the staples of East-West trade. But competition between Western traders eventually led to military intervention and the establishment of colonial empires. These actions have shaped the history of Asia, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence and shape this region today.
The new book by John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, “Western Power in Asia: Its Slow Rise and Swift Fall, 1415-1999” is a unique contribution to the understanding of present-day Asia, offering readers a unique overview of the 500 extraordinary years of Western power and influence in Asia. Never before has so much political narrative on the entire Western colonial experience been covered in a single volume like this book.
Author and Asian history expert Arthur Cotterell brings each era to life, giving incisive analysis to key events, using well-chosen illustrations and quotations from contemporary sources to represent Western and Eastern voices from each period in question. Painting a vast historical canvas of the whole colonial period from the arrival of the Portuguese in India in the fifteenth century till the delayed liberation in 1999 of their last colony, Eastern Timor, this book provides a reflective insight into the origins of many of today’s economic and trade structures in the robust region of Asia.
A knowledgeable and comprehensive survey, Western Power in Asia will be an important and authoritative resource for students and anyone interested in world history.
Additional information on the book is available at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470824891.html.
Western Power in Asia:
Its Slow Rise and Swift Fall, 1415 – 1999
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
US$29.95; Paperback; 448 pp.; ISBN: 978-0-470-82489-4
About the Author:
Arthur Cotterell was formerly the principal of Kingston College, London. Having lived and travelled widely in Asia, he has been writing about Asian affairs for decades. In 1980 he published The First Emperor of China, whose account of Qin Shi Huangdi’s remarkable reign was immediately translated into seven languages. His other works on subjects related to Western Power in Asia have also been acclaimed and translated. At present he is writing a history of Asia.
For a review copy of the book, please contact:
Camy Boey
Public Relations Executive
John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd
DID: +65 6460 4257
E: cboey@wiley.com
About Wiley:
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for over 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and Peace.
Our core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade publishes books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and websites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
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