A Short History of Cambodia

Overview

An engrossing look into the discordant history of Cambodia

In this concise and compelling history, Cambodia’s past is described in vivid detail, from the richness of the Angkorean empire through the dark ages of the 18th and early-19th centuries, French colonialism, independence, the Vietnamese conflict, the Pol Pot regime, and its current incarnation as a troubled democracy. With energetic writing and passion for the subject, John Tully covers the full sweep of Cambodian history, explaining why this land of contrasts remains an interesting enigma to the international community. Detailing the depressing record of war, famine, and invasion that has threatened to destroy Cambodia, this discussion shows its survival to be a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Author Biography

John Tully is the author of Cambodia Under the Tricolour King and France on the Mekong: A History of the Protectorate in Cambodia, 1863–1953. He is currently a lecturer in political science and asian studies at Victoria University–Melbourne.