'An extremely detailed and well-organized look at the country’s civil war.'
Times Literary Supplement
'Outstanding. Smith has woven a seamless narrative which interrelates the modern history of the heartland with the hills and finally makes sense of the complex history of the country. He has set a new standard in field research.'
Josef Silverstein, Rutgers University
'Smith’s book, with its mass of original information on the post-independence history of the country’s regional and ethnic movements, is a landmark.'
Peter Carey, Oxford University
'Smith’s book fills a void in Burma studies which will make it the basic reference work for years to come.’
Far Eastern Economic Review
'A masterful documentary history.'
Journal of Asian Studies
'The definitive work on what is indeed the central problem in Burma.'
Pacific Affairs
'For an understanding of Burma’s prolonged, continuing and largely unknown crisis no better work is available than this detailed, well-written and informative book.'
Choice
'Reportage at its best: expansive in concept, detailed in execution, passionate in its search for truth. An exceptional book.'
Current History
