Kate TeltscherCritiques

This is a fascinating insight to the start of the Tibetan myth and tibet's relationship with Qing China.

This is a different take on a part of the world in which the 18th century British were taking an interest as a possible trading partner. It is a well written and fascinating journey into the different expectations of the players: the British, arrogant as ever, demanding trade rights while being resisted by the Tibetans and through them the equally arrogant Chinese; the clash of religions, christian, buddhist, taoist; the clash of cultures. Above all there is the story of the landscape: forbidding, exhilirating, and on a scale different to anything else in the world. The author weaves her story of early contacts between these three groups and lets the reader judge.

Well worth a read.½