Description: Gargan's travels down the Mekong River reveal a frame of modernity settling uneasily on regions still mired in backwardness and poverty. 34 photos. 11 maps.
Review Quotes: "Far more than a picturesque personal travel diary. . .[Gargan] tells a unique and thought-provoking story."-The New York Times
"Gargan's handling of the complex histories of the countries, tribes, regions and peoples touched by this great river is just right." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch"Gargan has crafted a fine account of a very engaging journey. . . . It manages to convey a nuanced sense of place that makes one want to grab a backpack and jump on the first slow boat to pull to shore." -San José Mercury News
"A fascinating journey through one of the world's most compelling landscapes." -New Jersey Star-Ledger "Vivid, sometimes gripping . . . a solid accomplishment." -America "An excellent travelogue. A colorful and closely detailed account of travels along Southeast Asia's contested lifeline." -Kirkus Reviews