Eastern Arcadians

Now that the Cold War is over, people are talking about a new conflict: the conflict between civilizations. This revived the old opposition between East and West. This book collects Ian Buruma's essays that counter this idea. He describes how Westerners are attracted but also repelled by the sensuality of Asians, he analyses the personal conflict of Yukio Mishima, the work of VS Naipaul but also the world of Imelda Marcos. He also devotes an essay to Louis Couperus' relationship with the Dutch East Indies. In this clear and stimulating collection of essays, Ian Buruma has incorporated his thorough knowledge of Asia, which makes him one of the most important writers on that continent.