About the Author

Shelby Tucker is an American who read law at Oxford and practised for many years. He has addressed the US National Security Council on Burma and lectured on the Kachins and the Burmese Civil War at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and elsewhere. He has also acted as General Counsel for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.

Reviews

'Every few years there comes along a first book by an unknown author that makes you want to stand up and applaud. This is such a book. This is a story of real, risk-taking, old-fashioned travel, not pre-paid by a publisher or faked by a television company. Beautifully written and illustrated with colour photos and maps, it deserves to become a classic.' Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph 'Tucker's adventure is a throwback to the heroic age of travel...endlessley fascinating and well informed on this little known region of Asia...outstandingly well written in the insouciant Peter Fleming tradition...the most unusual and distinguished travel book I have read for years.' Robert Carver, Times Literary Supplement 'I read it with growing amazement. What a journey and what a lot of research since! Very impressive!' Robin Hanbury-Tenison