Product Description

Bangladesh is a new name for an old land whose history is little known to the wider world. A country chiefly famous in the West for media images of poverty, underdevelopment, and natural disasters, Bangladesh did not exist as an independent state until 1971. Willem van Schendel’s history reveals the country’s vibrant, colourful past and its diverse culture as it navigates the extraordinary twists and turns that have created modern Bangladesh. The story begins with the early geological history of the delta which has decisively shaped Bangladesh society. The narrative then moves chronologically through the era of colonial rule, the partition of Bengal, the war with Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh as an independent state. In so doing, it reveals the forces that have made Bangladesh what it is today. This is an eloquent introduction to a fascinating country and its resilient and inventive people.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43397 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 374 pages

Review
'This is an eloquent introduction to a fascinating country and its resilient and inventive people.' The Newsletter, International Institute for Asian Studies

About the Author
Willem van Schendel is Professor of Modern Asian History at the University of Amsterdam and Head of the Asia Department of the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam. His previous publications include Global Blue: Indigo and Espionage in Colonial Bengal (with Pierre-Paul Darrac, 2006) and The Bengal Borderland: Beyond State and Nation in South Asia (2005).

Customer Reviews

Best book on Bangladesh's History For Westerners
There isn't much out there in terms of reliable books on Bangladesh's history in the English language. I bought this book and absolutely love it because of the facts it contains. It is published by a reputable publisher and the author has done a great job to make it readable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out about Bangladesh - from its origins, to Partition from India to liberation and beyond. The fact that it is written by a non-Bengali is appealing to me because there hopefully will not be any bias towards any reporting of facts. The book covers many topics and acts like a springboard for personal research into specific areas of history.

My thanks to Professor Schendel for his hard work. I hope he will write another book that will deal in-depth about sub-topics such as the liberation war of 1971.

I recommend this book.